Kishida Cabinet Support Falls to New Low, Poll Shows

Support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet has dipped to 55.8%, its lowest point since its inauguration in October last year, according to a nationwide telephone poll conducted by Kyodo News on June 20-21. The poll revealed a 5.5 percentage point decrease from the May survey. Notably, support among those under 30 plummeted by 13.5 percentage points, and among women, it fell by 9.2 percentage points. Public disapproval rose to 27.9%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points.

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There is no need to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces.

The survey also addressed the potential deployment of the Self-Defense Forces to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz amid recent agreements between the United States and Iran. A majority of respondents, 54.7%, deemed such a deployment unnecessary, while 36.6% believed it was needed.

Furthermore, the poll touched upon a scandal involving smear campaign videos allegedly released by Kishida's camp during the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election last year. Nearly half of the respondents, 49.7%, felt Kishida's explanation was insufficient, with only 38.9% finding it adequate.

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Kishida's explanation was insufficient.

Regarding the government's consideration of lowering the consumption tax on food and beverages, opinions were split. 43.9% of respondents indicated that a 1% reduction, if implemented quickly, would be acceptable. However, 28.9% argued that a tax cut was unnecessary, and 22.6% favored a complete elimination of the tax, even if it took longer to implement.

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A 1% tax reduction is acceptable if implemented quickly.