Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday she does not know why her cabinet's approval ratings have declined in recent public opinion polls.
The decline marks a significant political shift for the administration, as it is the first time since the government took office that support has fallen below 50 percent [1]. This loss of momentum complicates the administration's ability to push through legislative priorities during a critical period of government oversight.
During an intensive session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee in Tokyo, Takaichi addressed the data showing her approval rating dropped to 49.2 percent [1]. This represents a decrease of 10.9 percentage points from the previous month [1]. Simultaneously, the proportion of citizens who said they do not support the cabinet rose to 34.8 percent, an increase of 11.8 percentage points [1].
When questioned about the reasons for this trend, Takaichi said that it is difficult for her to personally analyze the causes of the decline for each individual poll. She said the specific reasons are unknown, though she noted that she refers to the results of policy-specific questions in the polls to understand the feelings of the public.
Opposition members have used the session to challenge the Prime Minister's responsiveness to public dissatisfaction. During the proceedings, Upper House member Fusaho Izumi suggested that the administration should take more direct action to appease the public, saying that the Prime Minister should simply decide to reduce the consumption tax.
Takaichi said that while she cannot pinpoint the exact cause of the drop, she continues to use the data as a reference for her governance.
“"The reasons regarding the cause are unknown."”
The dip below the 50 percent threshold is a critical psychological and political marker in Japanese politics. By stating she does not know the cause of the decline, Takaichi risks appearing disconnected from the electorate's concerns. This lack of a clear diagnosis may embolden opposition parties to push for more aggressive policy concessions, such as tax cuts, as the administration's mandate weakens.
