July 2005 Nikkei Special Telephone Opinion Poll on Postal Privatization

Date Conducted

July 7-9, 2005

Released

July 10, 2005

Methodology

The Nikkei Shimbun regularly conducts public opinion polls on attitudes toward the government and domestic policy issues. The telephone poll surveyed 1,069 males and females over the age of 20 throughout Japan.

Key Issues

Support for Prime Minister Koizumi
Support for postal privatization reform

Link to Original Source

http://www.nikkei-r.co.jp/nikkeipoll/results.html

Disclaimer

The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Nikkei Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.

Q1. Do you support the Koizumi cabinet or not? (N=1069)

Support	43%
Don’t support	43%
Can’t say/don’t know	14%

Q2. What political party do you currently support? Please choose one. (N=1069)

Liberal Democratic Party	31%
Democratic Party of Japan	15%
New Komeito	4%
Japanese Communist Party	2%
Social Democratic Party	1%
Others	0%
Don’t support any party	37%
Can’t say/don’t know	9%

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? (N=491)

Liberal Democratic Party	15%
Democratic Party of Japan	20%
New Komeito	1%
Japanese Communist Party	5%
Social Democratic Party	2%
Others	0%
Don’t support any party	39%
Can’t say/don’t know	19%

[Support + preferable parties (N=1069)]

Liberal Democratic Party	38%
Democratic Party of Japan	24%
New Komeito	4%
Japanese Communist Party	5%
Social Democratic Party	2%
Others	0%
Don’t support any party	18%
Can’t say/don’t know	9%

Q3. The Postal Privatization Bill is being deliberated in the Diet. The Bill passed the Lower House at the July 5 vote in its plenary session by as little margin as five votes, as some members from the LDP voted against the Bill or missed the session in opposition to the party policy. What do you think about the rebellion by these members? Please choose one of the following three answers. (N=1069)

Understandable	22%
Understandable to some extent	40%
Not understandable	31%
Can’t say/don’t know	7%

Q4. Prime Minister Koizumi has indicated the possibility of dissolving the Lower House and elections in case the Postal Privatization Bill does not pass in this Diet session. What do you think about Prime Minister's political posture like this? Please choose one of the following three answers. (N=1069)

Support Prime Minister’s posture	24%
Should not persist on enactment within this Diet session, and should gain understanding from opposition parties as well for enactment	43%
Oppose to enactment of the Postal Privatization Bill	22%
Can’t say/don’t know	10%

Q5. Prime Minister Koizumi's tenure as the president of the Liberal Democratic Party will end in September 2006. How long do you think the Koizumi administration should last? Please choose one from the following three answers. (N=1069)

The administration should step down as soon as possible	20%
The administration should step down by the end of this year	14%
The administration should fulfill its term	55%
Can’t say/don’t know	11%

F1. Gender (judged by interviewers, N=1069)

Male	44%
Female	56%
Unknown	0%

F2. Age (N=1069)

20s	7%
30s	19%
40s	16%
50s	21%
60s	17%
Over 70	17%
Refuse to answer	3%

F3. What is your occupation? Please choose one from the following. (N=1069)

Agriculture, forestry, fishery	4%
Employed (corporate employee, bureaucrat, teacher, etc.)	39%
Self-employed (business, engineer), freelance (including family business)	13%
House wife (without any outside job)	23%
Student	1%
Unemployed	17%
Refuse to answer	3%