The governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is a distant second with 21 per cent, and 39 per cent of respondents remain undecided or plan to support smaller parties.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

In May, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On Aug. 19, Hatoyama vowed to govern Japan in a different fashion, saying, "This is a revolutionary vote to create a new Japan with politician-led politics. In contrast with the bureaucrat-led politics, we will produce politics in which the public plays a leading role."

The next election to the House of Representatives will take place on Aug. 30.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the House of Representatives election? (Proportional Representation)

Source: Asahi
Methodology: Interviews with 1,011 Japanese adults, conducted on Aug. 15 and Aug. 16, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

However, the election outcome is far from clear, as 39 per cent of respondents remain undecided or plan to support smaller parties.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

In May, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On Aug. 4, Okada, who now serves as the DPJ’s secretary general, said that improving Sino-Japanese relations would be a priority in an eventual administration, declaring, "The mainstream consensus within the DPJ is that the relations between Japan and China is very important. I believe if the DPJ becomes the ruling party, the relations will be further improved."

The next election to the House of Representatives will take place on Aug. 30.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the House of Representatives election?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Interviews with 1,037 Japanese voters, conducted on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is far behind with 23 per cent. 21 per cent of respondents remain undecided.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

In May, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On Jul. 21, Aso urged voters to reject Hatoyama’s message of change, saying, "We cannot leave Japan’s economy in their hands. (…) We cannot leave Japan’s security in the hands of a party without a security policy. Only the LDP can take responsibility for Japan’s future."

The next election to the House of Representatives will take place on Aug. 30.

Polling Data

Which party would you prefer to win the next general election?

Source: Mainichi
Methodology: Interviews to 1,045 Japanese adults, conducted on Jul. 18 and Jul. 19, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is first with 36 per cent, followed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) with 21 per cent.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

In May, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On Jul. 16, Hatoyama vowed to respect existing guidelines stating that Japan shall not allow any nuclear weapons in its territory, declaring, "The three non-nuclear principles are a fundamental policy of Japan, to be firmly upheld, and we should not give light opinions about the issue."

The next election to the House of Representatives will take place on Aug. 30.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the proportional representation election?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Interviews with 1,047 Japanese voters, conducted from Jul. 13, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

Opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama is chosen as the most suitable prime minister by 41 per cent of respondents, down three points in a month.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

In May, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

Earlier this month, DPJ candidate Heita Kawakatsu won the governorship race in Shizuoka—home to 3.8 million people—defeating LDP candidate Yukiko Sakamoto. This is the third time in a row that a DPJ candidate defeats a member of the ruling party in local ballots.

On Jul. 6, chief cabinet secretary Takeo Kawamura commented on the matter, saying, "The defeat of a candidate who was until recently an LDP upper house lawmaker is extremely disappointing. (…) We mobilized the entire organization of the party for the election."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Who would you prefer as prime minister?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Interviews with 1,021 Japanese voters, conducted from Jul. 2 and Jul. 3, 2009. Margin of error was provided.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

On Jun. 27, Aso promised to call a legislative election "in the not so distant future."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Taro Aso’s cabinet?

Source: Kyodo News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,039 Japanese adults, conducted on Jun. 12 and Jun. 13, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is behind with 29 per cent. 32 per cent of respondents remain undecided.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

On May 13, Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition DPJ, tendered his resignation over a fund-raising scandal. On that same day, deputy chief cabinet secretary Yoshitada Konoike—a close aide to Aso—stepped down after a news publication revealed that he took his mistress on a holiday using an official rail travel pass.

On May 16, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On Jun. 23, LDP lawmaker Taku Yamamoto said he has collected 216 signatures in a petition to hold an early leadership ballot in order to replace Aso before a general election takes place. Yamamoto declared: "Lawmakers are doing their best to explain their achievements to the public, but they are criticized because of the prime minister."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the proportional representation election?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,057 Japanese voters, conducted from Jun. 5 to Jun. 7, 2009. Margin of error was provided.

Incumbent Taro Aso of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is second with 33 per cent. About a quarter of respondents would like another person to lead the government.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

On May 13, Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition DPJ, tendered his resignation over a fund-raising scandal. On that same day, deputy chief cabinet secretary Yoshitada Konoike—a close aide to Aso—stepped down after a news publication revealed that he took his mistress on a holiday using an official rail travel pass.

On May 16, Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader. Hatoyama kept Ozawa as deputy leader.

As he accepted his new role, Hatoyama declared: "We can’t allow Aso’s government to continue like this, when people are suffering. We have to achieve a power change, which is our mission, the absolute must."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Who would you prefer as prime minister?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 1,057 Japanese voters, conducted from Jun. 5 to Jun. 7, 2009. Margin of error was provided.

The governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is a distant second with 27 per cent. 32 per cent of respondents would vote for another party or are undecided.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Taro Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

On May 13, Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition DPJ, tendered his resignation over a fund-raising scandal. On that same day, deputy chief cabinet secretary Yoshitada Konoike—a close aide to Aso—stepped down after a news publication revealed that he took his mistress on a holiday using an official rail travel pass.

On May 16, Yukio Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

Earlier this month, just before being elected as new DPJ chief, Hatoyama declared: "I will bring about a regime change for sure." Hatoyama added that the keyword of his platform would be "compassion."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Which party would you vote for in the proportional representation election?

Source: Yomiuri
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,059 Japanese adults, conducted on May 16 and May 17, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

Incumbent Taro Aso of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is second with 32 per cent. 24.4 per cent of respondents cannot pick either leader, or remain undecided.

Aside from a brief period in the 1990s, the LDP has administered Japan’s government for more than five decades. An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place in July 2007. Final results gave the opposition DPJ 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—now holds a majority in the upper house of Japan’s Diet for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

Since the retirement of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan has had three different LDP leaders and prime ministers. Shinzo Abe served from September 2006 to September 2007, and was replaced by Yasuo Fukuda. In September 2008, Fukuda announced he would step down as he felt "swamped" by the country’s issues. Foreign minister Aso won an internal leadership ballot and was sworn in as Japan’s new prime minister.

On May 13, Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition DPJ, tendered his resignation over a fund-raising scandal. On that same day, deputy chief cabinet secretary Yoshitada Konoike—a close aide to Aso—stepped down after a news publication revealed that he took his mistress on a holiday using an official rail travel pass.

On May 16, Hatoyama defeated Katsuya Okada in an internal ballot of DPJ lawmakers to become the new DPJ leader.

On May 20, Hatoyama justified his decision to keep Ozawa deputy leader, saying, "We only have a few months to go before the general election. Large movements within the party are undesirable."

The next election to the House of Representatives must be held on or before Sept. 6, 2009. Sitting prime ministers can dissolve the Diet and call an early ballot at their discretion.

Polling Data

Who would you prefer as prime minister?

Source: Kyodo News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,026 Japanese adults, conducted on May 16 and May 17, 2009. No margin of error was provided.