Asahi Shimbun June 2009 Regular Public Opinion Poll

 

Q1. The first questions are related to today’s politics. Do you support or not support the Aso Cabinet?  

Support	19% (27)
Do not support	65% (56)

 

  Q2. Which political party do you currently support?  

Liberal Democratic Party	22% (25)
Democratic Party ofJapan	29% (26)
New Komeito	3% (4)
JapanCommunist Party	2% (3)
Social Democratic Party	1% (1)
The People’s New Party	0% (0)
Reform Club	0% (0)
The New Party ofJapan	0% (0)
Other party	0% (0)
Do not support any party	37% (33)
No Answer/Do not know	6% (8)

 

Q3. If the general election were being held today, which party would you vote for in your proportional-representation district?  Please answer with the party’s name.  

Liberal Democratic Party	23% (25)
Democratic Party ofJapan	43% (38)
New Komeito	3% (5)
JapanCommunist Party	3% (3)
Social Democratic Party	1% (2)
The People’s New Party	0% (0)
Reform Club	0% (0)
The New Party ofJapan	0% (0)
Other party	1% (1)
No Answer/Do not know	26% (26)

 

Q4. Do you think it would be best for the administration to continue to be centered on the LDP?  Or do you think that there should be a change to an administration centered on the Democratic Party of Japan?  

Administration centered on the LDP	23% (28)
Administration centered on the DPJ	52% (45)

 

Q5. Between Prime Minister [Taro] Aso and DPJ President [Yukio] Hatoyama, who do you think is more suited to be prime minister?  

Mr. Aso	24% (29)
Mr. Hatoyama	42% (40)

 

Q6. Comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Hatoyama, who do you think has more leadership as a politician?  

Mr. Aso	23%
Mr. Hatoyama	46%

 

Q7. Who do you think most closely reflects the feelings of the people?  

Mr. Aso	16%
Mr. Hatoyama	56%

 

Q8. Do you approve or not approve of the Aso Cabinet’s economic measures?  

Approve	26%
Do not approve	62%

 

Q9.  Cash handouts of ¥12,000 to each resident have begun at all city and district municipalities.  Do you approve or not approve of these cash handouts?  

Approve	33%
Do not approve	60%

 

Q10.  Prime Minister [Taro] Aso declined to endorse Minister [Kunio] Hatoyama’s recommendation to fire the president of Japan Post Holdings Co., Yoshifumi Nishikawa.  Do you approve or not approve of Prime Minister Aso’s handling of the problem?  

Approve	22%
Do not approve	62%

 

Q11.  Ichiro Ozawa, who resigned as the Democratic Party of Japan’s leader, remained as a top party official when he was appointed acting president.  Can you accept or not accept the DPJ’s decision to appoint Mr. Ozawa as acting president?  

Accept	28%
Do not accept	61%

 

Q12.  The DPJ has proposed a ban on all political contributions from companies and organizations in three years.  Do you approve or not approve of this proposal?  

Approve	63%
Do not approve	21%

 

Q13.  From the next general election onwards, the DPJ has decided to restrict hereditary candidates of Diet members that are set to inherit seats and run from the same electoral districts.  Do you approve or not approve of this decision?  

Approve	59%
Do not approve	28%

 

Q14.  DPJ representative [Yukio] Hatoyama has stated “a discussion on raising the consumption tax in the next four years is not necessary.”  Do you approve or not approve of Mr. Hatoyama’s remark?  

Approve	51%
Do not approve	38%

 

Q15.  Switching topics, the government has announced that Japan aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2020.  Although financial circles had advocated for a slower plan, and the Minister of Environment for a stricter plan, a middle ground was taken.  Do you think the government’s target is appropriate, too severe or too slow?  

Appropriate	49%
Too severe	16%
Too slow	20%