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OPINION POLL (P06-2)

Asahi Shimbun April 2006 Regular Opinion Poll

Dates Conducted

April 22-23, 2006

Released

N/A

Methodology

The poll was taken of voters from across Japan who were selected by the three-stage random selection method (the “Asahi RDD” method). Approximately 55% of respondents (or 1947 people) fully answered the questionnaire. Figures in “[ ]” brackets represent the ratio to all the answers provided. Figures in normal “( )” parentheses indicate the results from an identical poll taken on March 18 and 19, 2006, unless otherwise noted.

Key Issues

• Support for Prime Minister Koizumi and his Cabinet
• Koizumi’s image in the media
• Support for Japanese political parties

Background

As Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s tenure draws to a close in September 2006, Japanese are considering his accomplishments and potential legacy. Koizumi at one point had approval ratings in the high-80s, but his support has fallen in the wake of the Livedoor financial scandal that implicated the LDP. With just a few more months left to go in his term, Koizumi can accomplish very little and he is already considered something of a lame duck. In this vein, voters are considering several leading candidates to succeed Koizumi. Shinzo Abe remains the frontrunner, but the elder statesman Yasuo Fukuda’s stock has risen in recent weeks.

Link to original source

Data received directly from Asahi Shimbun

Disclaimer

The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Asahi Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.

Survey:

Q 1: Do you support the Koizumi Cabinet? Do you not support the Cabinet?

Support	50% (46)
Don't support	36% (38)

Q 2: What do you think is the reason for your support (figures in the left column) or lack of support (right column) for the Cabinet? Choose one from the following:

The prime minister is Koizumi	23% [11]	5% [2]
The prime minister is from the LDP	17% [8]	10% [3]
The policies	33% [17]	60% [22]
The government is a coalition	7% [3]	14% [5]
Somehow	18% [9]	9% [3]

Q 3: What do you consider to be the Koizumi Cabinet’s good points (figures in left column) and bad points (right column)? Choose one:

The prime minister's political position	23% (11)	5% (2)
Administrative and finance reform	23% (18)	13% (12)
Business and employment measures	8% (7)	23% (27)
Foreign and defense policies	7% (8)	34% (27)
Nothing in particular	39% (46)	17% (19)

Figures in parentheses indicate results from the poll conducted April 16-17, 2005.

Q 4: What political party do you support now?

Liberal Democratic Party	38% (39)
Democratic Party ofJapan	17% (13)
NewKomeito	3% (3)
Japanese Communist Party	2% (3)
Social Democratic Party	2% (1)
The People's New Party	0% (0)
New PartyNippon	0% (0)
[Free Coalition?]	0% (0)
Don't support any party	34% (36)
Can't answer/Don't know	4% (5)

Q 5: Mr. Ichiro Ozawa has been appointed the new chief representative (party president) of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Do you have high hopes for the DPJ now that it is led by Mr. Ozawa, or do you not have high hopes?

Have high hopes	50%
Don't have high hopes	43%

Q 6: Has your interest in politics increased due to the fact that Mr. Ozawa has become the DPJ representative, or not so much?

Interest has increased	33%
Not so much	62%

Q 7: It will soon be five years since the Koizumi Cabinet began. Looking at all the results of the Koizumi Cabinet up until now, please grade the Cabinet’s accomplishments on a 10-point scale. Please answer from zero to 10 points, with a good grade being six points or above, a bad grade being four points or below, and five points being if you cannot say whether your grade is good or bad.

0 points	2%
1 point	1%
2 points	2%
3 points	5%
4 points	12%
5 points	32%
6 points	22%
7 points	14%
8 points	7%
9 points	1%
10 points	1%

Q 8: Please grade on a 10-point scale the Koizumi Cabinet’s tackling so far of these four areas: “Economic policy”; “Postal privatization and other administrative reforms”; “Pensions and other social security policies”; and “Diplomacy.”

	Economic policy	Administrative reform	Social security policy	Diplomacy
0 points	2%	3%	9%	7%
1 point	1%	1%	3%	3%
2 points	2%	3%	6%	6%
3 points	8%	6%	16%	14%
4 points	14%	11%	22%	17%
5 points	33%	21%	26%	24%
6 points	20%	17%	9%	12%
7 points	9%	15%	4%	8%
8 points	5%	13%	2%	5%
9 points	1%	3%	0%	1%
10 points	2%	4%	1%	1%

Q 9: What do you think is appealing about Prime Minister Koizumi? Choose one:

Easy to understand	22%
Doesn't waver	15%
Politically clean	6%
Easy to relate to	19%
Good looking	6%
Nothing in particular	30%

Q 10: Next is a question about the five years since Mr. Koizumi has been prime minister. Has your interest in politics increased over these five years, or not so much?

Interest increased	57%
Not so much	39%

Qa: Also, do you think you can say that your quality of life has become better over these five years, or do you think it has become worse?

Become better	18%
Become worse	42%

Qb: (For the 18% who answered “become better”): Do you think your standard of living has become better because of the Koizumi Cabinet’s policies, or do you not think so?

Think so	29% [5]
Don't think so	64% [11]

Qc: (For the 42% who answered “become worse”): Do you think your standard of living has become worse because of the Koizumi Cabinet’s policies, or do you not think so?

Think so	43% [18]
Don't think so	45% [19]

Q 11: From what media source do you get most of your knowledge and information on politics? Choose one:

Newspapers	37%
Television	55%
Magazines and journals	1%
Internet	6%

Q 12: To what degree do you think television influences your impression of the Koizumi Cabinet? Choose one:

Greatly	22%
To some degree	55%
Not much	17%
Not at all	5%

Q 13: Do you have a favorable impression of the way Prime Minister Koizumi conducts himself in Diet sessions and press conferences, or don’t you?

Have favorable impression	47%
Don't have favorable impression	40%

Q 14: Prime Minister Koizumi has indicated his intention to leave his position in September, when his term as the LDP president expires. At this stage, Mr. Taro Aso, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, and Mr. Yasuo Fukuda’s names have risen as the leading candidates as the next prime minister after Mr. Koizumi. Among the following five choices, who do you think is appropriate for the next prime minister?

TaroAso	4% (5)
ShinzoAbe	45% (47)
SadakazuTanigaki	3% (4)
YasuoFukuda	20% (20)
Someone else	17% (13)