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OPINION POLL (P06-7)

Asahi Shimbun August Regular Opinion Poll

Dates Conducted

August 26, and 27, 2006

Released

August 29, 2006

Methodology

The poll was conducted by telephone on August 26 and 27, 2006, of voters from across Japan who were selected by the three-stage random selection method (the “Asahi RDD” method). The number of people who answered all the questions in full is 1964; the ratio of answers is 58%.

Key Issues

• Support for Prime Minister Koizumi
• Success of Koizumi’s reforms
• Expectations of main opposition party

Background

This poll focuses on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his legacy, as the final months of his tenure draw to a close. Of concern is whether Koizumi’s reform measures were successful, and whether they should be carried on by his successor. Japanese are also considering how Koizumi changed the nature of politics in Japan, and whether there are expectations of the main opposition party leader, Ichiro Ozawa.

Link to Original Source

Data received directly from Asahi Shimbun

Disclaimer

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

Survey:

Q1. Do you support or not support the Koizumi Cabinet?

Support	47% (44)
Not support	36% (40)

Figures in parentheses are results from emergency polls conducted on August 21 and 22.

Q1a. What is the reason for your response above? Choose one from the following:

	Out of 47% who support	Out of 36% who do not support
The prime minister is Koizumi	23% (11)	8% (3)
The prime minister is from LDP	15% (7)	8% (3)
Policy reasons	35% (16)	60% (21)
The government is a coalition	9% (4)	10% (3)
For no particular reason	14% (7)	10% (4)

Figures in parentheses are the percentage of total responses.

Q2. Which political parties do you support?

Liberal Democratic Party	38% (39)
Democratic Party ofJapan	13% (14)
Komeito	3% (2)
JapanCommunist Party	3% (2)
Social Democratic Party ofJapan	2% (2)
The People's New Party	0% (0)
The New PartyJapan	0% (0)
The Free (Liberal) Coalition	0% (0)
Do not support any party	37% (34)
No answer, Do not know	4% (7)

Figures in parentheses are results from emergency polls conducted on August 21 and 22.

Q3. How do you evaluate Prime Minister Koizumi’s achievements as a whole? Choose one from the following:

Evaluate very positively	12%
Evaluate somewhat positively	56%
Do not evaluate so positively	23%
Do not evaluate positively at all	7%

Q3a. Among Prime Minister Koizumi’s policies, what do you evaluate most positively? Choose one from the following:

Economic policy	13%
Administrative reform	41%
Pension/welfare policies	9%
Foreign/security policies	14%

Q3b. Among Prime Minister Koizumi’s policies, what do you evaluate least positively? Choose one from the following:

Economic policy	12%
Administrative reform	5%
Pension/welfare policies	47%
Foreign/security policies	27%

Q4. Under Prime Minister Koizumi’s watch, do you think that the politics has improved or worsened as a whole?

Improved	45%
Worsened	27%

Q4a. (To the 45% that answered “improved”) What makes you think so? Choose one from the following:

Politics became easier to understand	34% (15)
Prime minister's leadership became stronger	42% (19)
Things come to move quicker in politics	19% (9)

Figures in parentheses are the percentage of total responses.

Q4b. (To the 27% who answered “worsened”) What makes you think so? Choose one from the following:

The way to proceed in the politics has become more pushy	33% (9)
Only certain issues get attention	29% (8)
Politics is now based more on populism	31% (9)

Figures in parentheses are the percentage of total responses.

Q5. Do you think Prime Minister Koizumi has changed the LDP in the last five and a half years, or do you not think so?

Changed	65%
Do not think so	27%

Q6. Mr. Koizumi said the reform would come with pains. How much did you feel the pain of the reform? Choose one from the following:

Felt it very much	19%
Felt it somewhat	46%
Did not feel it too much	28%
Did not feel it at all	5%

Q7. Do you want the next prime minister to continue the reform as Mr. Koizumi has? Do you agree with the direction of the reform but think its approach should be revised? Or do you want the direction of the reform itself to be changed?

Want the reform to continue as is	17% (17)
Agree with the direction of the reform, but want the approach to be revised	55% (54)
Want the direction of the reform itself to be changed	22% (23)

Figures in parentheses are the results from the polls conducted on June 24 and 25, 2006.

Q8. There is a view that the discrepancy in income and other elements is increasing in Japan recently. As you feel it everyday, do you feel that the discrepancy is widening, or do you not think so?

Widening	73% (71)
Do not think so	19% (20)

Figures in parentheses are the results from the polls conducted on February 18 and 19, 2006.

Q8a. (To the 73% that answered “widening”) Do you think the widening of economic discrepancy has to do with Prime Minister Koizumi’s policies, or do you think it has nothing to do with it?

Think so	62% <46> (49% <35>)
Do not think so	30% <22> (39% <28>)

Figures in parentheses are the responses to this question by the 71% who answered “expanded” in the polls conducted on February 18 and 19, 2006. Figures in < >are the percentage of the total responses.

Q9. What type of a politician is Mr. Koizumi? Choose one from the following:

Someone that builds something new	30%
Someone that destroys the old	59%

Q10. What do you think about the tenure of Prime Minister Koizumi? Do you think it was too long? Do you think it was about right? Or do you wish it would continue longer?

Was just right	48%
Too long	31%
Wish it would continue longer	18%

Q11. Do you expect much from Ozawa Ichiro, President of the Democratic Party of Japan?

Have expectation	37% (43)
Do not expect much	53% (49)

Figures in parentheses are the results from the polls conducted on July 22 and 23, 2006.

Q12. Inviting the 2016 Olympics to Japan has been explored, and Tokyo and Fukuoka City are the candidates. Do you have an interest in this issue, or do you not?

Have interest	51%
Do not have interests	46%

Q13. Do you want the 2016 Olympics to be held in Japan, or do you not think so?

Want it to be held inJapan	57%
Do not think so	30%