Asahi Shimbun December 2007 Opinion Poll
Dates Conducted
December 1 and 2, 2007
Date Released
December 4, 2007
Methodology
The poll was conducted by telephone on December 1 and 2, 2007, of voters from across Japan, whose telephone numbers were selected by a computer at random. Subjects were selected using a three-stage random sampling method (the Asahi RDD). The total number of those polled was 1969, with a 57% response rate. The numbers in ( ) are the results from a poll conducted on October 3 and 4, 2007, unless otherwise specified.
Key Issues
- Support for Prime Minister Fukuda
- Ministry of Defense scandals
- Formation of a coalition government
- Dissolution of the House of Representatives
- Replacing the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Act
- Use of the proceeds from the gasoline tax
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Asahi Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.
Survey
Q1. Do you support the Fukuda cabinet, or not?
| Support | 44%(45) |
| Do not support | 36%(34) |
Q2. Which political party do you currently support?
| Liberal Democratic Party | 31%(31) |
| Democratic Party of Japan | 23%(24) |
| Komeito | 4%(3) |
| Japan Communist Party | 2%(2) |
| Social Democratic Party | 2%(1) |
| The People’s New Party | 0%(0) |
| The New Party of Japan | 0%(0) |
| Other | 0%(1) |
| Do not support any party | 31%(32) |
| No answer/do not know | 7%(6) |
Q3. What do you think about the job that Prime Minister Fukuda is doing? (Please select one from the following.)
| Better than expected | 4% |
| As expected | 30% |
| Not as good as expected | 13% |
| Had no expectations in the first place | 48% |
Q4. Scandals involving the Ministry of Defense have come to light lately, including the arrest of former Vice Minister Moriya on charges of corruption, and instances of overcharging by companies providing equipment to the Self Defense Forces. Do you think that the measures taken by the government and ruling party to deal with this issue have been appropriate, or not?
| Appropriate | 22% |
| Not appropriate | 65% |
Q5. The House of Councilors decided to call Minister of Finance Nukaga to testify in connection with the Ministry of Defense issues, but then canceled the hearing. Do you think that it is a good thing that Minister Nukaga’s testimony was canceled, or not?
| Good thing | 19% |
| Not a good thing | 65% |
Q6. Within the Diet, the ruling party currently maintains a majority in the House of Representatives, while the opposition party has a majority in the House of Councilors. Do you support or oppose the formation of a coalition government between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan?
| Support | 30% |
| Oppose | 55% |
Q7. During a meeting between LDP and DPJ party heads on November 11, Prime Minister Fukuda proposed to DPJ President Ozawa that policy consultations be held to discuss security issues such as the dispatch of the Self Defense Forces overseas, and social-security issues such as pensions. Mr. Ozawa did not agree to the proposal, suggesting that the proper venue for such discussions is the Diet. Whose position do you agree with, Prime Minister Fukuda’s or Mr. Ozawa’s?
| Prime Minister Fukuda | 33% |
| Mr. Ozawa | 48% |
Q8. Warships from several countries, including the United States, are deployed in the Indian Ocean, to combat terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The legislation that allows the Self Defense Forces to support coalition warships, known as the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Act, expired on November 1, bringing an end to Self Defense Forces operations in the Indian Ocean. Do you feel that it is necessary for Self Defense Forces to resume operations in the Indian Ocean, or not?
| Necessary | 44%(43) |
| Not necessary | 44%(41) |
Q9. The government has submitted a new bill to replace the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Act. This bill is currently being considered by the Diet. If passed, it would limit the scope of Self Defense Forces operations in the Indian Ocean to the provision of fuel and water. The legislation would establish a one-year limit, and remove the requirement that the scope of operations be approved by the Diet. Do you support this legislation, or oppose it?
| Support | 36%(35) |
| Oppose | 43%(43) |
Q10. The ruling party is considering whether to call for another vote, to aim for a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives, if the proposed legislation is voted down in the House of Councilors. Do you think it is appropriate to call for another vote on this bill in the House of Representatives in an attempt to get it passed, or not?
| Appropriate | 46% |
| Not appropriate | 37% |
Q11. Do you think that the House of Representatives should be dissolved and a general election held as soon as possible? Or do you think that there is no need to rush?
| As soon as possible | 34%(35) |
| No need to rush | 55%(57) |
Q12. If a general election were held today, which party would you vote for in your proportional-representation block? Please answer with the party’s name.
| Liberal Democratic Party | 32% |
| Democratic Party of Japan | 32% |
| Komeito | 4% |
| Japan Communist Party | 3% |
| Social Democratic Party | 2% |
| The People’s New Party | 1% |
| The New Party of Japan | 0% |
| Other | 1% |
| No answer/do not know | 25% |
Q13. Do you think that it is a good thing for the administration to be composed mostly of LDP members? Or do you think that there should be a change over to an administration composed primarily of DPJ members? (The numbers in parentheses are the results from a poll conducted on October 13 and 14.)
| Composed mostly of LDP members | 37%(33) |
| Change to mostly DPJ members | 36%(32) |
Q14. The following question concerns earmarking the gasoline tax and other revenues for road construction. The original gasoline tax of ¥29 per liter of gas was recently raised by ¥25, to ¥54 per liter, to finance road construction. This ¥25 gas-tax increase is set to expire in March of 2008. If it does, the price at the pump would fall, but funds available for road construction would be cut in half as a result. Do you think that the ¥25 tax increase on gasoline should be kept in place in order to pay for road construction, or do you think that it should be allowed to expire?
| Should be kept in place | 21% |
| Should be allowed to expire | 68% |
Q15. Some say that proceeds from the gasoline tax and other sources of funding earmarked for road construction should be transferred to the general-revenues account so that it may be used for other purposes. Do you agree with this line of thinking, or not?
| Agree | 46% |
| Disagree | 41% |