Asahi Shimbun Regular Public Opinion Poll (6/13/2011)
Original: http://www.asahi.com/special/08003/TKY201106130538.html
Dates Conducted
June 11 and 12, 2011
Released
June 13, 2011 (Morning edition of the Asahi Shimbun).
Methodology
The poll was conducted by telephone on June 11 and 12 with voters from across Japan (except Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima, which were affected by the March 11 Tohoku earthquake), 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 3,394, with 1,980 responses and a 58% response rate. Decimals were rounded up. The questions with ◆ marks are questions for everyone. The questions with ◇ are branching questions, and the numbers with them are ratio to the participants who answer the questions. The numbers in 〈 〉 are the ratio to the whole. Unless otherwise noted, the numbers in ( ) are the results from a poll conducted on June 3 and 4, 2011.
Key Issues
- Support for the Kan cabinet
- Support for general election
- Support for grand coalition
- Support for raising tax for social security and disaster reconstruction
Q1. Do you support or not support the Kan cabinet? ◆
| Support |
22% (28) |
| Do not support |
56% (53) |
Q2. Which political party do you currently support? ◆
| Democratic Party of Japan |
19% (20) |
| Liberal Democratic Party |
16% (17) |
| New Komeito |
2% (3) |
| Japan Communist Party |
2% (2) |
| Social Democratic Party |
0% (0) |
| Your Party |
1% (1) |
| The People’s New Party |
0% (0) |
| The Sunrise Party of Japan |
0% (0) |
| The New Party Nippon |
0% (0) |
| New Renaissance Party |
0% (0) |
| Other party |
0% (0) |
| Do not support any party |
52% (48) |
| No answer/Do not know |
8% (9) |
Q3. Do you think that the administration should dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election as soon as possible? Or do you think that the administration does not need to be in a hurry? ◆
| As soon as possible |
19% |
| No need to be in a hurry |
69% |
Q4. If the general election were being held today, which party do you think you would vote for in the proportional representation section? ◆
| Democratic Party of Japan |
20% |
| Liberal Democratic Party |
24% |
| New Komeito |
4% |
| Japan Communist Party |
3% |
| Social Democratic Party |
1% |
| Your Party |
3% |
| The People’s New Party |
0% |
| The Sunrise Party of Japan |
0% |
| The Tax Cut Party of Japan |
0% |
| The New Party Nippon |
0% |
| New Renaissance Party |
0% |
| Other party |
1% |
| No answer/Do not know |
44% |
Q5. Do you think that it would be better if the ruling party and the opposition party come to a compromise and cooperate more in the current Diet?◆
| Come to a compromise and cooperate more |
84% |
| No need to do that |
10% |
Q6. Do you for or against the idea of the DPJ and LDP forming a grand coalition administration? ◆
| For |
42% |
| Against |
32% |
Q7. If DPJ and LDP formed a grand coalition administration, should the administration limit the agenda to disaster reconstruction, or should the administration tackle not only disaster reconstruction but also other agendas such as social security? ◆
| Only disaster reconstruction |
48% |
| Not only disaster reconstruction but also other agendas |
45% |
Q8. If DPJ and LDP formed a grand coalition administration, would it be better to choose the prime minister from DPJ or LDP? ◆
| DPJ |
33% |
| LDP |
21% |
Q9. Do you appreciate the way the Kan Cabinet has handled the accident of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant? ◆
| Yes |
19% |
| No |
63% |
Q10. Do you agree or disagree with utilizing nuclear power? ◆
| Agree |
37% |
| Disagree |
42% |
Q11. Across the nation, nuclear power plants have suspended operations for periodic inspections. If the nuclear power plants pass inspections and satisfy safety measures set by the government, would you be for or against the idea of restarting them? ◆
| For |
51% |
| Against |
35% |
Q12. Do you agree or disagree with the idea of gradually reducing the use of nuclear power and eventually, stop using it in the future? ◆
| Agree |
74% |
| Disagree |
14% |
Q13. The next question concerns natural energy such as wind power and solar power. Do you think that natural energy will replace nuclear energy? ◆
| Natural energy will replace nuclear energy |
64% |
| I do not think so |
24% |
Q14. Do you think it would be better to raise the proportion of natural energy in the total electric power supply even though electricity prices rise? Or do you think it would be better not to raise the proportion of natural energy if the electricity prices will rise? ◆
| Raise the proportion of natural energy |
65% |
| Not to raise the proportion of natural energy |
19% |
Q15. Do you agree or disagree with the idea of raising taxes in order to fund the earthquake disaster reconstruction? ◆
| Agree |
54% |
| Disagree |
35% |
Q15 b. (This question is answered by 54% of individuals who agreed with the idea of raising tax rate for earthquake disaster reconstruction) If the government raised the tax rate, should it be centered on consumption tax or should it be centered on income tax and corporate income tax? ◇
| Consumption tax |
45%〈25〉 |
| Income tax and corporate income tax |
40%〈22〉 |
Q16. Aside from a source of revenue for disaster reconstruction, the government research committee compiled a proposal to raise the consumption tax rate incrementally to 10 percent by fiscal year 2015 to secure the financial resources needed for social security. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal? ◆
| Agree |
43% |
| Disagree |
44% |