Ishiba Cabinet Holds Steady at 35% Approval Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns
The latest survey reveals that the approval rating for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet remains at 35.7%, showing minimal change from the previous month's figure of 36.5%. This stability comes during a period of economic uncertainty, particularly regarding the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on the Japanese economy.
According to a Kyodo News survey conducted over the weekend, a significant 84.3% of respondents expressed either concern or some level of apprehension regarding the implications of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff proposals. The disapproval rating for Ishiba's Cabinet saw an increase, rising to 49.2% from 43.1% in December.
President Trump has indicated that Canada and Mexico are likely to be the first targets of his tariff strategy, announcing plans for a potential 25% tariff on imports from these countries, effective February 1. This decision is poised to have substantial repercussions for Japan's automobile sector, given that many major Japanese automakers operate production facilities in these countries and rely on exports to the U.S. market. Additionally, Trump is considering a 10% tariff on imports from China starting on the same date.
The survey also addressed social issues, revealing that 59.4% of participants support the idea of allowing married couples to choose different surnames, a topic that has sparked considerable debate within parliamentary discussions. Support for this option has decreased from 67% in an October survey, following a proposal from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) aimed at enabling women to retain their maiden names more effectively.
When queried about adjustments to the tax-free annual income threshold, the most favored response--chosen by 36.4% of those surveyed--was to raise the threshold from the current 1.03 million yen (approximately $6,000) to 1.78 million yen. This figure aligns with a proposal from the Democratic Party for the People, an opposition party that the ruling coalition is seeking to engage with to maintain its minority government status. Another 27.8% favored an increase to 1.5 million yen, while 21.1% supported the LDP's proposed adjustment to 1.23 million yen.
In terms of political support, 26% of respondents indicated they would back the LDP for the proportional representation segment in the upcoming upper house election scheduled for summer. The survey showed 14.9% in support of the Democratic Party for the People, 12.9% for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and 5.8% for the Japan Innovation Party. Overall, support percentages for political parties were recorded at 29.6% for the LDP, 10.7% for the Constitutional Democratic Party, 5.4% for the Japan Innovation Party, 14.4% for the Democratic Party for the People, and 4.4% for Komeito. Notably, 19.3% of respondents identified as independents, stating they did not support any political party.
This nationwide survey was conducted over two days, concluding on Sunday, and involved calls made to 490 randomly selected households with eligible voters alongside 3,174 mobile phone numbers. The survey gathered responses from 429 household members and 635 mobile phone users, excluding areas in Ishikawa Prefecture that were affected by a powerful earthquake last January.
