Sanae Takaichi Cabinet's Approval Rating Plummets as Disapproval Exceeds Approval for the First Time

A recent public opinion poll has revealed a sharp decline in the approval rating for the cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with the disapproval rating exceeding the approval rating for the first time. Approximately six months after a major victory in the House of Representatives election, significant attention is now focused on the future of her administration's governance.

A "Reversal" in Approval and Disapproval Ratings

According to the latest poll conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun, the approval rating for the Takaichi Cabinet plummeted by 10 percentage points from 51% in the previous survey to 41%. Meanwhile, the disapproval rating rose by 9 percentage points from 35% to 44%, marking the first "reversal" where disapproval outpaced approval since the cabinet's inauguration.

A similar trend was observed in a survey by the Asahi Shimbun, where the cabinet's approval rating fell by 7 percentage points to 53%, while the disapproval rating rose by 8 percentage points to 35%. This also indicates growing public headwinds against the administration.

Dissatisfaction Over the "Revised Imperial House Law" and "Rising Prices"

The primary factor cited for the sharp drop in approval is the "Revised Imperial House Law" passed by the government and ruling coalition. In the Asahi Shimbun poll, 60% of respondents answered that the amendment "has not gained public understanding." Backlash against pushing through the legal revision without building sufficient consensus among voters appears to have directly contributed to the decline in support.

Furthermore, a perceived lack of measures to combat rising prices—fueled by the prolonged depreciation of the yen—has fueled public frustration. The public has delivered a harsh evaluation of the administration's current failure to present effective inflation countermeasures or economic policies that relieve pressure on daily life.

Defection of Independent Voters and Varied Reactions on Social Media

A closer look at the poll details reveals that while support for the cabinet remains high at nearly 90% among supporters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a reversal occurred among independent voters, who make up a large portion of the electorate (36% approval vs. 42% disapproval). This shift has dragged down the overall numbers.

The poll results have triggered diverse reactions on social media. Critics of the administration erupted with comments such as "The public is finally waking up" and "This is a natural result given the dissatisfaction over rising prices and the Imperial House Law revision." Speculation is also rife that approval ratings could drop further in the future.

On the other hand, supporters of the administration have expressed deep-seated distrust and dissatisfaction with media coverage, arguing that "overly negative campaigns by the media are having an impact" or that "certain media outlets are manipulating public opinion." This has highlighted a sharp polarization of public sentiment.

Future Outlook

A reversal in approval and disapproval ratings so early in its tenure is an undeniable blow to the Takaichi administration. The government now faces a critical juncture where its executive capability will be severely tested, specifically in how it proposes concrete solutions to public concerns over economic issues and policy agendas to regain public trust.

The context

Sanae Takaichi is a prominent conservative politician in Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), known for her strong nationalist views, advocacy for traditional values, and close alignment with the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. While this article describes a scenario in which she serves as Prime Minister, it is important to note that she has run for the LDP leadership but, as of early 2025, has not held the prime ministership (which is currently held by Shigeru Ishiba, following Fumio Kishida). The "Revised Imperial House Law" mentioned in the article refers to the highly sensitive and ongoing debate in Japan regarding imperial succession. Conservatives, like Takaichi, traditionally favor maintaining male-only succession, whereas public polls often show broader support for allowing female emperors. Any legislative changes in this area, along with persistent inflation caused by a weak yen, represent some of the most politically volatile issues in contemporary Japanese politics.