(Tokyo Shimbun: December 28, 2015 – p. 2)
Questions & answers (%)
(Figures in parentheses are the results of the last survey conducted Nov. 28–29.)
Q1: Do you support the Abe cabinet?
|
Yes |
49.4 |
(48.3) |
|
No |
38.2 |
(40.4) |
|
Don’t know (D/K) + no answer (N/A) |
12.4 |
(11.3) |
Q2: (Only for those who answered “yes” to the previous question) What’s the primary reason for your approval of the Abe cabinet? Pick only one from among the reasons listed below.
|
The prime minister is trustworthy |
11.0 |
(11.0) |
|
Because it’s a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito |
12.8 |
(10.3) |
|
The prime minister has leadership ability |
15.1 |
(10.6) |
|
Something can be expected of its economic policies |
17.2 |
(13.4) |
|
Something can be expected of its foreign policy |
7.1 |
(8.4) |
|
Something can be expected of its political reforms |
3.3 |
(5.6) |
|
Something can be expected of its tax reforms |
1.7 |
(1.2) |
|
Something can be expected of its administrative reforms |
1.3 |
(1.2) |
|
There’s no other appropriate person [for prime minister] |
28.9 |
(36.5) |
|
Other answers (O/A) |
0.9 |
(1.0) |
|
D/K+N/A |
0.7 |
(0.8) |
Q3: (Only for those who answered “no” to the first question) What’s the primary reason for your disapproval of the Abe cabinet? Pick only one from among the reasons listed below.
|
The prime minister is untrustworthy |
19.6 |
(23.0) |
|
Because it’s a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito |
11.3 |
(5.6) |
|
The prime minister lacks leadership ability |
3.2 |
(3.0) |
|
Nothing can be expected of its economic policies |
17.5 |
(23.9) |
|
Nothing can be expected of its foreign policy |
5.4 |
(4.6) |
|
Nothing can be expected of its political reforms |
9.9 |
(8.9) |
|
Nothing can be expected of its tax reforms |
12.0 |
(7.5) |
|
Nothing can be expected of its administrative reforms |
2.9 |
(7.3) |
|
Don’t like the prime minister’s personal character |
10.8 |
(12.7) |
|
O/A |
6.5 |
(3.0) |
|
D/K+N/A |
0.9 |
(0.5) |
Q4: Which political party do you support?
|
Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP or Jiminto) |
36.9 |
(36.7) |
|
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) |
9.7 |
(10.2) |
|
Komeito (K or Komeito) |
4.6 |
(4.0) |
|
Japanese Communist Party (JCP or Kyosanto) |
3.5 |
(4.2) |
|
Japan Innovation Party (JIP or Ishinnoto) |
0.4 |
(1.1) |
|
Osaka Ishinnokai |
5.1 |
(5.1) |
|
Kaikaku Kesshu no Kai (Assembly of Reform) |
0.1 |
|
|
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) |
1.1 |
(0.8) |
|
People’s Life Party (PLP or Seikatsunoto) |
0.4 |
(0.4) |
|
Assembly to Energize Japan (AEJ or Nippon o Genkinisurukai) |
— |
(0.2) |
|
Party for Japanese Kokoro (Nihon no Kokoro wo Taisetsu ni suru To) |
— |
(0.7) |
|
New Renaissance Party (NRP or Shinto Kaikaku) |
0.3 |
(0.1) |
|
Other political parties, groups |
— |
(–) |
|
None of the above (NOTA) |
36.8 |
(35.9) |
|
D/K+N/A |
1.1 |
(0.6) |
Q5: Do you approve of raising the consumption tax rate to 10% in April 2017?
|
Yes |
46.5 |
|
|
No |
50.0 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
3.5 |
|
Q6: The government and ruling parties have decided that foods and beverages, excluding alcohol and restaurant meals, will be subject to a “reduced tax rate” (continued application of the current consumption tax rate of 8%) when the consumption tax is raised [to 10%]. Do you approve of this scope of application of the reduced tax rate on foods?
|
Yes |
49.2 |
|
|
No |
45.5 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
5.3 |
|
Q7: It will require about 1 trillion yen to implement the tax relief on food. The decision of how to make provisions for these funds has been postponed. What do you think about this?
|
Funding should be decided |
59.2 |
|
|
It is not necessary to decide the funding at present |
31.5 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
9.3 |
|
Q8: The Abe cabinet has approved a record 96.7 trillion yen draft budget for fiscal 2016, and defense expenses will rise for the first time to the 5 trillion yen level, up for the fourth straight year. Do you approve of increasing the defense budget?
|
Yes |
42.7 |
|
|
No |
50.4 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
6.9 |
|
Q9: The DPJ and JIP have formed a joint parliamentary group in the House of Representatives. Do you think the two parties should become one party with an eye on the Upper House elections next year?
|
The DPJ and JIP should become one party |
30.8 |
|
|
There is no need for the DPJ and JIP to become one party |
58.5 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
10.7 |
|
Q10: Three years have passed since Abe launched his second administration. Do you feel that the economy has improved during these years through the Abe administration’s economic policy package known as "Abenomics”?
|
Yes |
23.6 |
|
|
No |
73.7 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
2.7 |
|
Q11: What is your view on holding the Lower House and Upper House elections simultaneously?
|
The two elections should be held simultaneously |
49.4 |
|
|
Holding the two elections simultaneously should be avoided |
41.1 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
9.5 |
|
Q12: Do you approve of allowing couples, if they so desire, to continue to use their premarital surnames after they marry?
|
Yes |
51.3 |
|
|
No |
42.4 |
|
|
D/K+N/A |
6.3 |
|
Note: Regarding the question where respondents are asked to indicate the political party they support, Kaikaku Kesshu no Kai (Assembly of Reform) did not exist at the time the previous survey was taken. Party for Japanese Kokoro (Nihon no Kokoro wo Taisetsu ni suru To) was called the Party for Future Generations (PFG or Jisedainoto) at the time of the last survey.
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted by telephone of voters across the nation on Dec. 26–27 on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. However, the survey excluded some areas in Fukushima Prefecture. Among randomly generated telephone numbers, those actually for household use with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,443. Answers were obtained from 1,014 persons.
