Sunday’s Mainichi reported on the results of its opinion poll jointly conducted with the Social Survey Research Center on Feb. 19, which found that the public support for the Kishida Cabinet dropped 7 points from last month to 45%, the lowest since the Kishida administration was launched in October 2021. Nonsupport was 46%, up 10 points. Concerning the GOJ measures against COVID-19, 27%, down 4 points, welcomed it, substantially less than the 51%, up 12 points, who did not. The paper attributed the drop in public approval to public frustration with the government amid the prolonged sixth wave of infection. Meanwhile, when asked about COVID-19 restrictions, 40% said the GOJ should ease them, while 28% said it should strengthen them. In addition, 63% said the GOJ’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been slow, while 29% felt otherwise. 

Monday’s Nikkei and Sankei reported on the results of a Kyodo survey conducted on Feb. 19 and 20, which found that 73.5% of respondents thought the GOJ’s efforts to administer COVID-19 booster shots have been “slow.” Public support for the Kishida Cabinet was 56.6%, up 0.7 points from last month, and nonsupport was 27.4%, up 2.2 points. Asked whether Japan should possess the capability to attack enemy bases, 49.1% expressed support for the idea and 45.1% disapproved of it. 

Tuesday’s Asahi reported on its opinion poll conducted on Feb. 19 and 20, which showed that public support for the Kishida Cabinet fell 4 points from last month to 45% and nonsupport rose 9 points to 30%. When asked whether they think Kishida is exercising leadership in implementing COVID-19 measures, 34%, down 3 points, said “yes,” while 53%, up 12 points, said “no.”  

Sankei also reported on the results of its joint survey with FNN on Feb. 19 and 20, which found that public support for the Kishida Cabinet dropped 4.3 points from last month to 62.6%. This was reportedly the first drop since the launch of the cabinet in October 2021. Disapproval rose 3.2 points to 30.0%. On Ukraine, 43.9% said Japan should impose sanctions on Russia if it invades Ukraine, while 44.1% said it should not. Regarding the Beijing Olympics, 70.9% welcomed the GOJ’s “diplomatic boycott,” while 19.2% did not.