Asahi Shimbun November 2009 Regular Public Opinion Poll
Dates Conducted
November 14 and 15, 2009
Date Released
November 17, 2009 (Morning Edition of the Asahi Shimbun)
Methodology
The poll was conducted by telephone on November 14 and 15 with 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 3,598, with 2,153 responses and a 60% response rate. Decimals were rounded up. The numbers in [ ] are the percentages of those polled as compared to the entire population of those who answered. The numbers in ( ) are the results from a poll conducted on October 11 and 12, 2009.
Key Issues
- Support for the Hatoyama Cabinet
- Evaluation of the Hatoyama cabinet
- Relocation of Futenma Air Station
- Hatoyama and the false fund donation statements
- Injection of public funds to Japan Airlines Co. Ltd.
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Asahi Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.
Survey
Q1. The first questions are related to today’s politics. Do you support or not support the Hatoyama cabinet?
| Support | 62% (65) |
| Do not support | 21% (16) |
SQ1. Why? Please select one from the following four choices: (The results in the left column are from the 62% who answered “support,” and the results in the right column are from the 21% who answered “do not support.”)
| Mr. Hatoyama is the Prime Minister | 5% [3] | 4% [1] |
| The cabinet is primarily composed of DPJ members | 26% [16] | 20% [4] |
| Policies of the cabinet | 46% [29] | 46% [10] |
| Executive ability | 18% [11] | 26% [5] |
Q2. Which political party do you currently support?
| Democratic Party of Japan | 46% (45) |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 14% (15) |
| New Komeito | 3% (3) |
| Japan Communist Party | 2% (2) |
| Social Democratic Party | 1% (1) |
| Your Party | 0% (1) |
| The People’s New Party | 0% (0) |
| Reform Club | 0% |
| The New Party of Japan | 0% (0) |
| Other party | 0% (0) |
| Do not support any party | 28% (29) |
| No Answer/Do not know | 6% (4) |
Q3. Do you think the policies published in the DPJ Manifesto during the House of Representatives general election should definitely be realized? Or should there be some flexibility and the policies reevaluated?
| Definitely be realized | 16% |
| Flexibility and the policies reevaluated | 77% |
Q4. The following questions concern an evaluation of the work of the Hatoyama cabinet. First, do you positively or not positively evaluate their efforts towards economic and employment measures?
| Positively | 37% |
| Not positively | 38% |
Q5. Do you positively or not positively evaluate their efforts towards diplomacy/national security?
| Positively | 36% |
| Not positively | 36% |
Q6. Do you positively or not positively evaluate their efforts towards pension/medical care?
| Positively | 48% |
| Not positively | 28% |
Q7. Do you positively or not positively evaluate their efforts towards cutting wasteful administration costs?
| Positively | 76% |
| Not positively | 14% |
Q8. Do you positively or not positively evaluate their efforts towards changing the politics of dependence on the bureaucracy?
| Positively | 69% |
| Not positively | 18% |
Q9. There has been criticism surrounding the Hatoyama cabinet, towards the prime minister’s hazy statements and the difference in opinion between cabinet members on important problems. Do you agree or disagree with this kind of criticism?
| Agree | 61% |
| Disagree | 27% |
Q10. The Hatoyama cabinet has announced a review of the privatization of the postal system. Are you for or against this review?
| For | 49% |
| Against | 33% |
Q11. The president of Japan Post has changed from a member with origins in the private sector, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, to former Vice Finance Minister Jiro Saito. Do you think this contradicts or does not contradict the Hatoyama cabinet’s intentions to “breakdown bureaucracy” and “prohibit amakudari?”
| Contradicts | 59% |
| Does not contradict | 30% |
Q12. The following question concerns the relocation issue of U.S. air station Futenma located in Okinawa . Prior to the change in administration, an agreement to relocate to Nago, Okinawa was made with the U.S. government. Do you think this agreement should be protected or the agreement should be reviewed and renegotiated?
| Agreement should be protected | 28% |
| Agreement should be reviewed and renegotiated | 54% |
Q13. The Hatoyama cabinet has pledged a 450 billion yen aid package over five years to rebuild Afghanistan instead of continuing its refueling mission by the Maritime Self-Defense Forces in the Indian Ocean . Are you for or against this?
| For | 38% |
| Against | 41% |
Q14. The following question concerns Prime Minister Hatoyama’s false fund donation statements scandal. Do you accept or not accept Mr. Hatoyama’s response to this problem?
| Accept | 19% |
| Do not accept | 68% |
Q15. Are you for or against injecting public funds for the reconstruction of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. which has fallen into financial difficulties?
| For | 40% |
| Against | 46% |