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OPINION POLL (P06-12)

September 2006 Nikkei Emergency Telephone Opinion Poll

Dates Conducted

September 26-27, 2006

Released

N/A

Methodology

Nationwide poll. See below for age and gender breakdown.

Key Issues

• Support for new Abe Cabinet
• Financial sanctions on North Korea
• Support for possible Yasukuni Shrine visit

Background

This poll was conducted as newly-elected Prime Minister Abe Shinzo stepped into power, succeeding former Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro. The transition of power raised numerous questions about how Prime Minister Abe would form his Cabinet and what key positions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party would be filled by particular party members.

Link to Original Source

http://www.nikkei-r.co.jp/nikkeipoll/qandres/y200609a.html

Disclaimer

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

Survey:

Q1. Do you support or not support the new Abe Cabinet? (N=720)

Support	71%
Not support	17%
Can't say/don't know	12%

Q1SQ1. For those who answered “support” in Q1, what is the reason for your support? Please choose as many as apply from the following seven answers. (N=510)

Because it is an LDP cabinet	19%
Good policies	9%
Good sense of international affairs	14%
Leadership	13%
Stability	14%
Can trust members' personalities	19%
Clean	2%
Others	10%
Can't say/don't know	5%

Q1SQ2. For those who answered “don’t support” in Q1, what is the reason for your non-support? Please choose as many as apply from the following seven answers. (N=121)

Because it is an LDP cabinet	34%
Bad policies	28%
Bad sense of international affairs	17%
Lack of leadership	27%
Instability	23%
Cannot trust members' personalities	19%
Not clean	2%
Others	10%
Can't say/don't know	5%

Q2. What political party do you currently support? Please choose only one. (N=720)

Liberal Democratic Party	48%
Democratic Party ofJapan	14%
Komeito	2%
JapanCommunist Party	2%
Social Democratic Party ofJapan	1%
The People's New Party	0%
The New PartyJapan	0%
Others	0%
Do not support any party	27%
Can't say/don't know	5%

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? Please choose only one. (N=233)

Liberal Democratic Party	19%
Democratic Party ofJapan	14%
Komeito	0%
JapanCommunist Party	6%
Social Democratic Party ofJapan	1%
The People's New Party	0%
The New PartyJapan	0%
Others	0%
Do not support any party	41%
Can't say/don't know	18%

[Support + preferable parties (N=720)]

Liberal Democratic Party	55%
Democratic Party ofJapan	18%
Komeito	2%
JapanCommunist Party	4%
Social Democratic Party ofJapan	2%
The People's New Party	0%
The New PartyJapan	0%
Others	0%
Do not support any party	13%
Can't say/don't know	6%

Q3. What policy issues do you want the Abe Cabinet to prioritize? Please choose as many as apply from the following 14 answers. (N=720)

Economy	26%
Fiscal Reform	21%
Tax Reform	19%
Administrative reform/deregulation	7%
Diplomacy/national security issues	20%
Social security issues including pension and welfare	58%
Employment	21%
Education	29%
Reforms in political system	9%
So called "Sanmiittai" or triple reform of central and local government taxing systems	13%
Local economy revitalization	15%
Constitutional issues	8%
Environmental issues	16%
Safety/crime control	21%
Others	3%
Can't say/don't know	12%

Q4. Do you appreciate the lineup for the Abe Cabinet and LDP leadership? (N=720)

Appreciate	44%
Do not appreciate	22%
Neither	12%
Can't say/don't know	23%

Q4SQ1. For those who answered “appreciate” in Q4, what is the prime reason for it? Please choose only one of the following. (N=316)

Chosen without faction politics	17%
Chosenbased on capability/merit system	27%
More young members	41%
More female members	7%
Others	2%
Can't say/don't know	6%

Q4SQ2. For those who answered “do not appreciate” in Q4, what is the primary reason for your answer? Please choose only one of the following. (N=156)

Chosenbased on faction politics	38%
Chosen without capability/merit system	22
Few young members	20%
Few female members	8%
Others	7%
Can't say/don't know	4%

Q5. What do you think of Prime Minister Abe’s possible visit to the Yasukuni Shrine? (N=720)

Support	40%
Oppose	41%
Can't say/don't know	19%

Q6. The Japanese government implemented financial sanctions on North Korea. What do you think about it? (N=720)

Sanctions are too severe	4%
Sanctions are appropriate	51%
Sanctions should be further strengthened	28%
Can't say/don't know	17%

F1. Gender (judged by interviewers, N=720)

Male	41%
Female	59%
Unknown	0%

F2. Age (N=720, Average: 54.7)

20s	6%
30s	16%
40s	15%
50s	20%
60s	20%
Over 70	21%
Refuse to answer	2%

F3. What is your occupation? Please choose one from the following. (N=720)

Agriculture, forestry, fishery	4%
Employed (corporate employee, bureaucrat, teacher, etc.)	37%
Self-employed (business, engineer), freelance (including family business)	14%
Housewife (without any outside job)	220%
Student	1%
Unemployed	20%
Refuse to answer	2%