July 28, 2026
TOKYO – The approval rating for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet has plunged to 57%, down 12 percentage points from 69% in the previous survey in June and the lowest level since the administration took office last October, according to a nationwide Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted from Friday through Sunday.
The decline appears to reflect dissatisfaction with Takaichi’s failure to adequately explain major legislation and policy initiatives, including revisions to the Imperial House Law, as well as frustration over persistently high prices. The Cabinet’s disapproval rating rose to 34% from 21%.
Support for the Takaichi Cabinet had remained in the 60% to 70% range since its formation but has now fallen below 60% for the first time. The shift was particularly pronounced among voters unaffiliated with any political party. Approval among those voters dropped to 41% from 54%, while disapproval rose to 47% from 30%. It was the first time since the Cabinet took office that disapproval had exceeded approval among respondents who supported no political party.
Asked whether the prime minister had adequately explained major legislation and policies, including revisions to the Imperial House Law, 62% said she had not, more than double the 29% who said she had.
A total of 71% said they disapproved of the government’s response to rising prices, up 15 points from 56% in the previous survey. Just 21% approved of the response, down from 35%.
Support for the governing Liberal Democratic Party fell to 31% from 39%. Among other parties, Sanseito received 5% support, up from 4%; the Democratic Party for the People received 3%, down from 5%; the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan received 3%, up from 2%; the Japan Innovation Party remained at 3%; and the Japanese Communist Party received 3%, up from 2%.
Respondents who supported no political party accounted for 39% of respondents, an increase of six points from the previous survey.
45% disapprove of admitting adoptees
Regarding revisions to the Imperial House Law that made it possible for male-line male descendants of former branches of the Imperial Family that left the household after World War II to be adopted into the Imperial Family, 45% said they disapproved, compared with 40% who approved.
The Imperial Household Agency has said that the men belonging to these former branches are separated from the current emperor by 36 to 38 degrees of kinship.
Under the revised system, if a man adopted into the Imperial Family has a son, that son will be eligible to succeed to the throne. A total of 52% approved of that provision, while 35% disapproved.
Asked whether debate over securing a stable Imperial succession should continue, including discussion of further revisions to the Imperial House Law, 76% said it should, compared with 14% who said it should not. Even among supporters of the Takaichi Cabinet, who accounted for 57% of all respondents, 79% favored continuing the debate.
Support also remained strong for allowing female members of the Imperial Family to retain their status. A total of 71% approved of allowing current female Imperial family members to remain in the Imperial Family after marriage, far exceeding the 17% who disapproved.
Under the arrangement, the husbands and children of female Imperial family members who remain in the household after marriage will continue to be private citizens. Asked whether the husbands and children should also be granted Imperial status, 51% said no, while 31% said yes.
A total of 85% supported revising the Imperial House Law again to allow a woman to ascend the throne, while 8% opposed the change.