Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continues to enjoy robust public support even as diplomatic tensions with China deepen and the country faces fresh economic challenges, new surveys revealed on Monday.
A weekend poll by the Asahi Shimbun showed Takaichi’s cabinet with a 69 percent approval rating, while 17 percent of respondents expressed disapproval. A separate Kyodo News survey released Sunday recorded a similar trend, with approval at 69.9 percent and disapproval at 16.5 percent.
Takaichi, 64, became Japan’s first female prime minister on October 21, succeeding her political rival, former moderate leader Shigeru Ishiba, after a series of electoral setbacks weakened his administration. Known for her demanding schedule — she has admitted to sleeping just two to four hours per night — the new prime minister has had a high-intensity start to her tenure, including hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and attending two regional summits in Malaysia and South Korea. Both gatherings featured talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
However, her remarks on Taiwan during a parliamentary session on November 7 have triggered a diplomatic rift, with Beijing demanding a retraction and issuing a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid Japan.
Domestically, economic concerns persist. Inflation played a key role in Ishiba’s political decline, and government data released Monday showed Japan’s economy contracted in the third quarter. In response, Takaichi’s administration is preparing a stimulus package estimated at more than 17 trillion yen ($110 billion), which local reports say could be finalised this week.
