The approval rating of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet stood at 39% in a survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun from Friday to Sunday. This is the first time it has been below 40% since Abe came under fire over scandals surrounding school operator Moritomo Gakuen and the Kake Gakuen Educational Institution in April 2018, when the figure was also 39%.
The approval rating in the nationwide survey was 40% in the previous Yomiuri survey taken June 5-7. The disapproval rating came in at 52%, up from 50% in the June survey.
Asked about the arrest of former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his wife, upper house lawmaker Anri Kawai, on suspicion of giving bribery surrounding last summer's upper house election, 65% said they thought Abe, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party to which the couple belong, is "largely responsible."
Regarding the decision to withdraw the planned deployment of the Aegis Ashore ground-based interceptor system, 53% "support" it and 33% "do not support" it. Asked whether Japan should possess the capability to attack enemy bases before being attacked by foreign missiles, 43% "agree" while 49% "disagree."
Asked when the House of Representatives should be dissolved for a general election, 40% said "it's not necessary until the term expires," while 27% said "the first half of next year" and 21% said "this year."
The approval ratings for political parties were 32% for the Liberal Democratic Party (34% in the June survey) and 5% for the Constitutional Democratic Party (4% in June). Those who do not support any particular party accounted for 46% (45% in June).
--95% worry about 2nd virus wave
In the July survey, 57% said they worry "very much" about a second wave of novel coronavirus infections, up from 52% in the June survey. Those who worry "to some extent" accounted for 38%, down from 39% last month, bringing the total percentage of people who are worried to 95%.
The government lifted its request to refrain from cross-prefectural travel on June 19. However, when asked about summer trips this year, 12% answered "traveling beyond prefectures," while 15% answered "take a short trip" within their own prefecture and 67% said they would "refrain from traveling."
The government plans to launch its Go To Campaign program in early August to help boost tourism by subsidizing half of travel costs. Still, many people seem to remain cautious.
On the other hand, when it comes to declaring a state of emergency in the event of a resurgence of infections, the proportion of respondents who answered "It should be carefully considered by taking into account its impact on economy" rose to 49% from 36% in June, while those who answered "It should be issued promptly to protect the health of people" accounted for 47%, down from 61% in June.
In response to a government panel of experts calling for an 80% reduction in people-to-people contacts and a new lifestyle, 66% said the panel's reactions "were appropriate."
The Yomiuri Shimbun obtained responses from 1,086 people who are 18 or older across Japan, by calling random numbers on fixed and mobile telephones.
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