September 2006 Nikkei Emergency Telephone Opinion Poll
Dates Conducted
September 26 – 27, 2006
Methodology
Nationwide poll. See below for age and gender breakdown.
Key Issues
- Support for new Abe Cabinet
- Financial sanctions on North Korea
- Support for possible Yasukuni Shrine visit
Background
This poll was conducted as newly-elected Prime Minister Abe Shinzo stepped into power, succeeding former Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro. The transition of power raised numerous questions about how Prime Minister Abe would form his Cabinet and what key positions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would be filled by particular party members.
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Nikkei Telephone poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.
Survey
Q1. Do you support or not support the new Abe Cabinet? (N=720)
| Support | 71% |
| Not support | 17% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 12% |
Q1SQ1. For those who answered “support” in Q1, what is the reason for your support? Please choose as many as apply from the following seven answers. (N=510)
| Because it is an LDP cabinet | 19% |
| Good policies | 9% |
| Good sense of international affairs | 14% |
| Leadership | 13% |
| Stability | 14% |
| Can trust members’ personalities | 19% |
| Clean | 2% |
| Others | 10% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 5% |
Q1SQ2. For those who answered “don’t support” in Q1, what is the reason for your non-support? Please choose as many as apply from the following seven answers. (N=121)
| Because it is an LDP cabinet | 34% |
| Bad policies | 28% |
| Bad sense of international affairs | 17% |
| Lack of leadership | 27% |
| Instability | 23% |
| Cannot trust members’ personalities | 19% |
| Not clean | 2% |
| Others | 10% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 5% |
Q2. What political party do you currently support? Please choose only one. (N=720)
| Liberal Democratic Party | 48% |
| Democratic Party ofJapan | 14% |
| Komeito | 2% |
| JapanCommunist Party | 2% |
| Social Democratic Party ofJapan | 1% |
| The People’s New Party | 0% |
| The New PartyJapan | 0% |
| Others | 0% |
| Do not support any party | 27% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 5% |
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? Please choose only one. (N=233)
| Liberal Democratic Party | 19% |
| Democratic Party ofJapan | 14% |
| Komeito | 0% |
| JapanCommunist Party | 6% |
| Social Democratic Party ofJapan | 1% |
| The People’s New Party | 0% |
| The New PartyJapan | 0% |
| Others | 0% |
| Do not support any party | 41% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 18% |
[Support + preferable parties (N=720)]
| Liberal Democratic Party | 55% |
| Democratic Party ofJapan | 18% |
| Komeito | 2% |
| JapanCommunist Party | 4% |
| Social Democratic Party ofJapan | 2% |
| The People’s New Party | 0% |
| The New PartyJapan | 0% |
| Others | 0% |
| Do not support any party | 13% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 6% |
Q3. What policy issues do you want the Abe Cabinet to prioritize? Please choose as many as apply from the following 14 answers. (N=720)
| Economy | 26% |
| Fiscal Reform | 21% |
| Tax Reform | 19% |
| Administrative reform/deregulation | 7% |
| Diplomacy/national security issues | 20% |
| Social security issues including pension and welfare | 58% |
| Employment | 21% |
| Education | 29% |
| Reforms in political system | 9% |
| So called “Sanmiittai” or triple reform of central and local government taxing systems | 13% |
| Local economy revitalization | 15% |
| Constitutional issues | 8% |
| Environmental issues | 16% |
| Safety/crime control | 21% |
| Others | 3% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 12% |
Q4. Do you appreciate the lineup for the Abe Cabinet and LDP leadership? (N=720)
| Appreciate | 44% |
| Do not appreciate | 22% |
| Neither | 12% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 23% |
Q4SQ1. For those who answered “appreciate” in Q4, what is the prime reason for it? Please choose only one of the following. (N=316)
| Chosen without faction politics | 17% |
| Chosenbased on capability/merit system | 27% |
| More young members | 41% |
| More female members | 7% |
| Others | 2% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 6% |
Q4SQ2. For those who answered “do not appreciate” in Q4, what is the primary reason for your answer? Please choose only one of the following. (N=156)
| Chosenbased on faction politics | 38% |
| Chosen without capability/merit system | 22 |
| Few young members | 20% |
| Few female members | 8% |
| Others | 7% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 4% |
Q5. What do you think of Prime Minister Abe’s possible visit to the Yasukuni Shrine? (N=720)
| Support | 40% |
| Oppose | 41% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 19% |
Q6. The Japanese government implemented financial sanctions on North Korea. What do you think about it? (N=720)
| Sanctions are too severe | 4% |
| Sanctions are appropriate | 51% |
| Sanctions should be further strengthened | 28% |
| Can’t say/don’t know | 17% |
F1. Gender (judged by interviewers, N=720)
| Male | 41% |
| Female | 59% |
| Unknown | 0% |
F2. Age (N=720, Average: 54.7)
| 20s | 6% |
| 30s | 16% |
| 40s | 15% |
| 50s | 20% |
| 60s | 20% |
| Over 70 | 21% |
| Refuse to answer | 2% |
F3. What is your occupation? Please choose one from the following. (N=720)
| Agriculture, forestry, fishery | 4% |
| Employed (corporate employee, bureaucrat, teacher, etc.) | 37% |
| Self-employed (business, engineer), freelance (including family business) | 14% |
| Housewife (without any outside job) | 220% |
| Student | 1% |
| Unemployed | 20% |
| Refuse to answer | 2% |