Suga Cabinet Approval Rate Drops 7 Points To 55%
An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rating for Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's Cabinet has dropped 7 points to 55 percent. The disapproval rating has risen 7 points to 20 percent.
NHK telephoned 2,236 randomly chosen people aged 18 or older over a three-day period starting on Friday. Fifty-seven percent, or 1,284 people, responded.
Of those who support the Cabinet, 26 percent said it's a better alternative to other possible cabinets, and 24 percent said they trust Suga.
Eighteen percent said the Cabinet has the ability to get things done. Another 18 percent said they have high hopes for its policies. Ten percent said it's the Cabinet of parties they support.
Among those who disapprove, 32 percent said they don't trust Suga, and 31 percent said they don't expect much from the Cabinet's policies.
Thirteen percent said other possible cabinets would be better and another 13 percent said of the Cabinet that it's not the Cabinet of the party they support. Six percent said the Cabinet cannot get things done.
When asked whether they are concerned that they or their family members may become infected with the coronavirus, 32 percent said they are very concerned, and 47 percent said they are concerned to some extent. Fifteen percent said they are not so concerned, and 3 percent said they are not concerned at all.
When asked how they feel about the government's handling of the coronavirus outbreak so far, 5 percent said they rate it highly, while 49 percent said they had a rather positive view of it.
Thirty-four percent said they do not rate it highly, while 6 percent said they do not have a positive view of it at all.
On October 1, the government eased entry restrictions for foreigners from around the world, except tourists.
When asked about the timing, 20 percent said it's appropriate, while 59 percent said it was too early. Nine percent said the restrictions were eased too late.
Japanese government offices traditionally use "hankos," or personal seals, on administrative paperwork, but Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro is urging them to refrain from doing that whenever possible.
When asked about the minister's idea, 22 percent said they have a highly positive view of it, while 43 percent said they have a rather positive view of it. Twenty-one percent said they do not rate it highly. Three percent said they do not have a positive view of it. .
Suga did not appoint some of the scholars nominated by the country's leading academic body, the Science Council of Japan, as its new members.
The decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and academics, but Suga argues that the decision was made based on the laws and is appropriate.
When asked whether his explanation was convincing, ten percent said they were completely convinced, while 28 percent said they were convinced to some degree. Thirty percent said they were not really convinced, and 17 percent said they were not convinced at all.
