(Asahi: July 20, 2015—Top play)

 In the wake of the House of Representatives’ recent passage of the government’s proposed package of security-related legislative measures, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based spot public opinion survey across the nation on July 18-19. The rate of public support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet was 37% (39% in the last survey), and the Abe cabinet’s nonsupport rate was 46% (42% in the last survey). The Abe cabinet’s support rate hit an all-time low since the launch of its rebooted cabinet, with its nonsupport rate hitting an all-time high. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and its coalition partner, the Komeito party, forced a vote in the House of Representatives on the security legislation without many of the opposition parties and passed the legislation. In the survey, respondents were asked what they think about this. In response to this question, a total of 69% answered that “it was not good.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abe has now announced his intention to redo the new national stadium’s blueprint. In the survey, respondents were asked whether they approve of this. To this question, “yes” accounted for a total of 74%. (Abridged)