Kishida Cabinet Keeps Haemorrhaging Support Amid Inflation & Unification Church Scandal

The approval rating of Fumio Kishida's Cabinet fell to 35% in the latest Kyodo News survey, reaching the lowest level since its inauguration a year ago, as the Prime Minister struggles to contain the fallout from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's links with the controversial Unification Church.

• The Cabinet's approval rating dropped 5.2ppts to 35.0%, while the disapproval rating increased by 1.8ppts to 48.3%. The steep pace at which public approval of the Kishida administration is eroding may be surprising, as back in August 54.1% of respondents still supported the country's leadership.
• There is strong disappointment about the LDP's response to accusations of its links with the Unification Church. Actions taken so far were deemed insufficient by 83.2% of respondents. In addition, 87% were dissatisfied with Lower House Speaker Hosoda's explanations, which he provided only after the LDP released the results of its survey of such links.
• Rising costs of living are becoming more of an issue, as 78.8% of respondents said they felt their lives were being affected. The yen's rapid depreciation has accentuated imported inflation in Japan, where consumers are famously sensitive to growing prices.