Takaichi Cabinet support rate unchanged at 53%

An NHK poll shows approval of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's Cabinet remains unchanged from last month at 53 percent, matching the lowest since it was formed last year. The disapproval rate fell 2 points to 31 percent.

NHK conducted the survey by telephone from Friday to Sunday. Among 2,905 people aged 18 or older who were contacted randomly, 1,177 responded.

The survey asked about the government's plan to lower the consumption tax on food to 1 percent and to provide cash payments to low- and middle-income earners paying the 1 percent for two years from April next year.

A total of 48 percent said they are in favor of the plan, 37 percent said they are against it, while 16 percent said they are undecided or gave no response.

The government says it will secure funding for the tax cut without depending on deficit-covering government bonds and that it will decide on how to pay for the reduction during the budget process for next fiscal year.

Regarding the impact of the tax cut on the country's finances, 27 percent said they are very concerned, 39 percent said they are concerned to some extent, 18 percent said they are not very concerned, and 9 percent said they are not concerned at all.

Takaichi plans to reshuffle Liberal Democratic Party executives and the Cabinet, but intends to retain LDP's Vice-President Aso Taro, Secretary-General Suzuki Shunichi, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru and other key lawmakers.

Asked whether they have high expectations for a future Takaichi administration, 9 percent said they have very high expectations, 35 percent said they have high expectations to some extent, 31 percent said they don't expect much, and 19 percent said they have no expectations at all.

Respondents were asked to choose policies from six options they expect from the Takaichi administration in the future.

A total of 7 percent chose the consumption tax cut, while the largest portion, 26 percent, selected measures to deal with rising prices other than tax cuts, followed by 21 percent for measures to tackle social security and the declining birthrate, 19 percent for an economic growth strategy, 14 percent for diplomacy and national security, and 4 percent for amending the Constitution.