Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has seen her cabinet approval ratings drop to their lowest level since taking office. Amid allegations of a "slander video" involving rival candidates and ongoing public dissatisfaction over rising living costs, her administration faces increasing scrutiny.
According to a poll released by Jiji Press on June 18, Takaichi's cabinet approval rating fell by 5.1 percentage points to 54.3%, marking the lowest since her administration began in October of last year. The percentage of respondents who viewed the cabinet negatively rose to 22.2%, the highest since her inauguration, while support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) dropped to 22.8%, a decrease of 5.0 percentage points. This downward trend is not isolated; a separate survey by Mainichi Shimbun in May also recorded a 50% approval rating, the lowest in three months.
Jiji Press identified the slander video allegations as a primary factor behind the decline. The controversy began with a report from the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, which claimed that videos aimed at discrediting rival candidates and promoting Takaichi were produced and disseminated on social media ahead of last year's LDP presidential election. It was alleged that Takaichi's official secretary had contact with a man identified as the video's producer. Takaichi has consistently denied any involvement in the production or distribution of slanderous videos, stating, "I have never commissioned the creation or distribution of videos that defame others."
However, inconsistent responses in the Diet have raised questions about her qualifications as a leader. The Asahi Shimbun reported on June 12 that Takaichi was forced to correct her statements regarding her secretary, leading to concerns about her credibility. Initially, she claimed, "I have no acquaintance with that man, nor does my secretary," but later altered her statements, saying, "I have not met him" and "We are not on terms where we would exchange business cards or know each other's affiliations or names."
Her approach to addressing the allegations has also come under fire. After Shukan Bunshun released an audio file believed to belong to her secretary to paying members only, opposition parties demanded that Takaichi listen to the recording and verify whether it was indeed her secretary's voice. Takaichi refused, stating, "I do not intend to become a paying member," and instead opted to submit a written statement containing her secretary's explanation to the House of Representatives Budget Committee on June 22.
Opposition parties criticized this as an irresponsible attempt to avoid direct accountability. Akira Nagatsuma, a member of the Democratic Party for the People, stated, "Submitting a statement just before the end of the session does not allow for proper scrutiny. Is this not a delay tactic?" On June 24, opposition parties reiterated their demands for Takaichi to answer questions directly and for her secretary to appear as a witness in the Diet, but the LDP refrained from providing a definitive response. Public sentiment regarding Takaichi's explanations is largely negative, with 40.4% of respondents in the Jiji Press June survey stating they found her explanations unacceptable, compared to only 19.4% who accepted them.
The decline in approval ratings is not solely attributed to the slander video allegations. Public dissatisfaction stemming from rising living costs has also played a significant role. The LDP had promised to temporarily reduce the consumption tax rate on food products to 0% during the February House of Representatives election, but discussions about only lowering it by 1% have sparked controversy over whether this constitutes a reversal of their pledge. In the Jiji Press survey, 40.7% of respondents said the consumption tax should be set to 0%, while 29.4% supported a 1% rate. However, among LDP supporters, 36.9% favored the 1% rate compared to 33.5% who preferred 0%, indicating a divide within the party. One lawmaker close to Takaichi warned that sticking with the 1% rate would likely lead to further declines in approval ratings.
Additionally, instability in the Middle East is exacerbating inflationary pressures. Disruptions in the supply of naphtha, a key ingredient in petroleum products, have prompted the food industry to reduce packaging. A May survey by Mainichi found that 52% of respondents believed the government should request that citizens conserve petroleum-related products, while only 25% disagreed. When asked about measures to address rising prices, 41% preferred consumption tax cuts over cash payments (29%), although 30% felt neither option was appropriate. Mainichi noted that there is a growing demand for government action in response to inflation and instability in the Middle East.
The combination of these challenges has raised concerns within the LDP about the sharp decline in approval ratings. Jiji Press reported that the party is experiencing a sense of crisis as Takaichi's ratings hit a record low. One senior lawmaker remarked that the slander video allegations have significantly damaged her image, while another expressed concern that the impact may linger, saying, "Even if it does not affect us immediately, it will have a long-term effect." An official from the coalition partner Japan Innovation Party criticized Takaichi's inconsistent statements, stating, "There are issues with the Prime Minister's explanations." A different senior lawmaker, who has distanced himself from Takaichi, criticized her refusal to verify the audio, saying, "This is too insincere. She never intended to answer honestly from the beginning."
Despite these challenges, Takaichi still maintains an approval rating in the mid-50s. However, the Prime Minister, who previously leveraged social media to secure victories in both the LDP presidential election and the House of Representatives election, now finds herself ensnared by the very allegations stemming from social media. The decline in her approval ratings has also led to a corresponding drop in support for the LDP, increasing the pressure on her administration. Junya Ogawa, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, assessed that Takaichi has entered a phase where her qualifications and trust as Prime Minister are under threat.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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