(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for the government of Shinzo Abe fell again in Japan, according to two public opinion polls. In a survey by Asahi, 26 per cent of respondents approve of the prime minister's cabinet, down four points in nine days.

In a study by Yomiuri, the cabinet's approval rating stands at 31.7 per cent, down 3.1 points since mid-July.

In September 2006, Abe became the new leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's 90th prime minister. Abe vowed to "make Japan into a country full of vitality, opportunities and kindness." Abe's tenure has been affected by massive clerical errors within the Social Insurance Agency (SIA), and the suicide of agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka.

An election to renew half of the House of Councillors seats took place on Jul. 29. Final results gave the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 60 of the 121 seats at stake, with the governing LDP winning 37 mandates. The opposition—with 137 seats—will hold a majority in the House of Councillors for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955.

On Aug. 3, chief cabinet secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki revealed that Japan's navy will remain committed to the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, saying, "The upper house election notwithstanding, the foreign policies of the Abe administration would basically remain unchanged.''

On Aug. 4, Abe said a cabinet shuffle might come later this month, adding, "I have no intention of taking a long time. My intention to select cabinet members without recommendations from intra-party factions remains unchanged."

Polling Data

a) Do you approve or disapprove of Shinzo Abe's cabinet?

b) Do you approve or disapprove of Shinzo Abe's cabinet?

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