July 2005 Nikkei Special Telephone Opinion Poll on Postal Privatization
Dates Conducted
July 7 – 9, 2005
Date Released
July 10, 2005 (Nikkei Shimbun)
Methodology
The Nikkei Shimbun regularly conducts public opinion polls on attitudes toward the government and domestic policy issues. The telephone poll surveyed 1,069 males and females over the age of 20 throughout Japan.
Key Issues
- Support for Prime Minister Koizumi
- Support for postal privatization reform
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Nikkei Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.
Survey
Q1. Do you support the Koizumi cabinet or not? (N=1069)
| Support | 43% |
| Don’t support | 43% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 14% |
Q2. What political party do you currently support? Please choose one. (N=1069)
| Liberal Democratic Party | 31% |
| Democratic Party of Japan | 15% |
| New Komeito | 4% |
| Japanese Communist Party | 2% |
| Social Democratic Party | 1% |
| Others | 0% |
| Don’t support any party | 37% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 9% |
Q2SQ. For those who answered “don’t support any party” or “can’t say/don’t know” in Q2, if you have to choose one party, which party do you feel is most preferable? (N=491)
| Liberal Democratic Party | 15% |
| Democratic Party of Japan | 20% |
| New Komeito | 1% |
| Japanese Communist Party | 5% |
| Social Democratic Party | 2% |
| Others | 0% |
| Don’t support any party | 39% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 19% |
[Support + preferable parties (N=1069)]
| Liberal Democratic Party | 38% |
| Democratic Party of Japan | 24% |
| New Komeito | 4% |
| Japanese Communist Party | 5% |
| Social Democratic Party | 2% |
| Others | 0% |
| Don’t support any party | 18% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 9% |
Q3. The Postal Privatization Bill is being deliberated in the Diet. The Bill passed the Lower House at the July 5 vote in its plenary session by as little margin as five votes, as some members from the LDP voted against the Bill or missed the session in opposition to the party policy. What do you think about the rebellion by these members? Please choose one of the following three answers. (N=1069)
| Understandable | 22% |
| Understandable to some extent | 40% |
| Not understandable | 31% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 7% |
Q4. Prime Minister Koizumi has indicated the possibility of dissolving the Lower House and elections in case the Postal Privatization Bill does not pass in this Diet session. What do you think about Prime Minister’s political posture like this? Please choose one of the following three answers. (N=1069)
| Support Prime Minister’s posture | 24% |
| Should not persist on enactment within this Diet session, and should gain understanding from opposition parties as well for enactment | 43% |
| Oppose to enactment of the Postal Privatization Bill | 22% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 10% |
Q5. Prime Minister Koizumi’s tenure as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party will end in September 2006. How long do you think the Koizumi administration should last? Please choose one from the following three answers. (N=1069)
| The administration should step down as soon as possible | 20% |
| The administration should step down by the end of this year | 14% |
| The administration should fulfill its term | 55% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 11% |
F1. Gender (judged by interviewers, N=1069)
| Male | 44% |
| Female | 56% |
| Unknown | 0% |
F2. Age (N=1069)
| 20s | 7% |
| 30s | 19% |
| 40s | 16% |
| 50s | 21% |
| 60s | 17% |
| Over 70 | 17% |
| Refuse to answer | 3% |
F3. What is your occupation? Please choose one from the following. (N=1069)
| Agriculture, forestry, fishery | 4% |
| Employed (corporate employee, bureaucrat, teacher, etc.) | 39% |
| Self-employed (business, engineer), freelance (including family business) |
13% |
| House wife (without any outside job) | 23% |
| Student | 1% |
| Unemployed | 17% |
| Refuse to answer | 3% |