Prime Minister Takaichi delivers her first policy address since taking office during the House of Representatives plenary session on the afternoon of October 24.
Opinion surveys conducted by multiple news organizations in October showed backing for the newly inaugurated Sanae Takaichi cabinet holding steady between 60 and 70%.
A joint poll conducted by The Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) on October 25–26 found a 75.4% approval rating for the new government.
Another Nikkei and TV Tokyo survey carried out from October 24 to 26 reported a 74% support rate, while an Asahi Shimbun poll conducted on October 25–26 recorded 68%.
Young Voters Fuel the Surge
Among them, the Sankei Shimbun and FNN survey marked its highest approval rating for a prime minister since the current polling format was introduced in January 2021, surpassing 70% for the first time.
The disapproval rating stood at 19.1%, also the lowest on record under the current format.
Compared to a September survey during the former Shigeru Ishiba administration, approval ratings have surged by 37.5 points. The Ishiba government's approval rating at its launch was 53.3% in October 2024.
His predecessor, Fumio Kishida, had an approval rating of 63.2% in October 2021.
The newly minted Takaichi cabinet has therefore taken off with greater momentum than its two immediate predecessors. Notably, approval among younger and working-age voters has noticeably risen compared to the previous administration.
Economic Priorities, Coalition Approval
As for policy priorities, economic measures — such as efforts to curb rising prices and boost wages — ranked highest, at 45.8%.
This was followed by:
- Social security policies, including pensions, healthcare, and welfare (20.1%)
- Security and defense, including diplomacy (11.1%)
- Political reform, including money and politics (10.4%)
- Policies concerning foreign residents in Japan (9.5%)
Regarding Komeito's withdrawal from the ruling coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party, 77.0% of respondents viewed the move positively, including those who said it was "somewhat good."
Moreover, 63.2% expressed approval of Nippon Ishin no Kai joining the fresh LDP-led ruling coalition, including those who described it as "somewhat good."
Momentum in Markets and Policy
Meanwhile, the Nikkei average hit a record high on Monday, surpassing the 50,000-yen mark for the first time. Analysts have attributed part of the rally to investor optimism over the new government's economic agenda.
In defense policy, where public expectations are rising, Prime Minister Takaichi's key initiatives include loosening the defense equipment transfer principles and accelerating revisions to the three strategic defense documents.
Scrapping the existing export limits on weapons and technology, if achieved, is expected to further boost Japan's defense industry.
Diplomatic engagements are also ramping up. Following her meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Takaichi is poised to take part in a series of major international forums, including the APEC summit in South Korea and the G20 meeting in November.
At her diplomatic debut at the recent ASEAN summit in Malaysia, the newly elected prime minister stressed deepening regional cooperation and upholding a rules-based international order.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
