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NIKKEI SHIMBUN APRIL 2007 TELEPHONE INTERVIEW POLLS (P07-19)

April 2007 Nikkei Shimbun Telephone Interview Polls

Dates Conducted
April 27-29, 2007

Released
April 30, 2007

Copyright
Nikkei Shimbun

Methodology
Nationwide poll. See below for age and gender breakdown.

Key Issues

· Support for the Abe Cabinet

· Public interest in the revision of the constitution

· Upcoming election in summer 2007

Link to Original Source

http://www.nikkei-r.co.jp/nikkeipoll/qandres/y200704a.html

Disclaimer

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

All numbers are percentages.

Q1. Do you support or not support the Abe cabinet? (N=865)

Support	53
Do not support	37
Can't say/ don't know	11

Q1SQ1. For those who answered “support” in Q1, what is the reason for your support? Please choose as many as apply from the following answers. (N=454)

Because it is an LDP cabinet	28
Good policies	8
Good sense of international affairs	13
Leadership	7
Stability	15
Can trust members' personality	44
Politically clean	16
Others	4
Can't say/ don't know	4

Q1SQ2. For those who answered “do not support” in Q1, what is the reason for your lack of support? Please choose as many as apply from the following answers. (N=316)

Because it is an LDP cabinet	23
Bad policies	38
Bad sense of international affairs	16
Lack of leadership	49
Instability	27
Cannot trust members' personality	11
Politically not clean	4
Others	3
Can't say/ don't know	3

Q2. Which political party do you currently support? Please choose only one of the following. (N=865)

Liberal Democratic Party	34
Democratic Party ofJapan	15
Komeito	5
JapanCommunist Party	3
Social Democratic Party	1
The People's New Party	0
The New Party ofJapan	0
Other	0
Do not support any party	38
Can't say/ don't know	4

Q2SQ. For those who answered “Do not support any party” or “Can not say/do not know” in Q2, if you had to select one, which party would you prefer the most? Please choose only one of the following. (N=360)

Liberal Democratic Party	21
Democratic Party ofJapan	15
Komeito	1
JapanCommunist Party	2
Social Democratic Party	3
The People's New Party	0
The New Party ofJapan	0
Others	0
Do not support any party	49
Can't say/don't know	10

[Support + Preferable Parties (N=865)]

Liberal Democratic Party	43
Democratic Party ofJapan	21
Komeito	6
JapanCommunist Party	4
Social Democratic Party	3
The People's New Party	0
The New Party ofJapan	0
Others	0
Do not support any party	20
Can't say/ don't know	4

Q3. Do you support or not support the performance of the Abe Cabinet? (N=865)

Support	42
Do not support	42
Neither support nor not support	5
Can't say/don't know	11

Q3SQ1. For those who answered “support” in Q3, what is the primary reason for your support? (N=365)

Efforts for fiscal reconstruction	10
Efforts for education reform	29
Restoration of party membership to opponents of the postal privatization	1
Confronting problems associated with politics and money	6
Efforts to deal with constitutional issues	5
Response toChinaandSouth Korea	14
Response to theNorth Koreaissues	26
Others	0
Can't say/don't know	8

Q3SQ2. For those who answered “do not support” in Q3, what is the primary reason for your lack of support? (N=360)

Efforts for fiscal reconstruction	13
Efforts for education reform	9
Restoration of party membership to opponents of the postal privatization	15
Confronting problems associated with politics and money	29
Efforts to deal with constitutional issues	14
Response toChinaandSouth Korea	6
Response to theNorth Koreaissues	9
Others	5
Can't say/don't know	1

Q4. Debate over the revision of the constitution has become intensified in the Diet and in general. What is your opinion on the revision of the Constitution? (N=865)

It is all right as it is.	35
It should be revised.	51
Can't answer/ don't know	14

Q4SQ1. For those who answered “it is all right as it is” in Q4, what is your reason to think it is all right as it is? (N=302)

There are no problems as it is.	16
The revision of the constitution may trigger a change on the pacifism.	45
There are may other issues to deal with.	14
The constitution should not be revised except in extraordinary circumstances.	22
Others	0
Can't answer/ don't know	2

Q4SQ2. For those who answered “it should be revised” in Q4, what is your reason for the revision? (N=438)

The constitution was enacted under the occupation.	10
The articles are unrealistic.	29
It is necessary to incorporate new ideas.	45
It is necessary to change the structure of the nation in order to facilitate reforms easily.	14
Others	1
Can't answer/ don't know	1

Q4SQ3 For those who answered “it should be revised” in Q4, what should be the time frame for the revision? (N=438)

It should be revised as soon as possible	30
It should be revised within a few years	28
It should be thoroughly debated without a deadline.	42
Can't answer/ don't know	1

Q5. If there are problems in the current constitution, what are those items? Please choose as many as apply from the following five answers. (N=865)

Article 9 that contains renunciation of the right of belligerency is unrealistic.	22
There is no article that is responsive for current society such as environmental and privacy rights.	29
The article on the Diet including the bicameral system composed of the House of Councilors and the House of Representatives is inappropriate.	21
There is wide latitude for the government's intervention and freedom of economic activities is not clearly delineated.	17
The idea of local autonomy is not fully incorporated.	25
Others	2
There is no problem.	2
Can't answer/ don't know	21

Q6. The revision of the constitution can be achieved if two third of each of the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors and the majority of the people in a national referendum support the change. What is your opinion about this requirement? (N=865)

Requirements should be relaxed and the revision should be made easier.	26
It is all right as it is.	41
Requirements should be tightened and the revision should be made more difficult.	16
Can't answer/ don't know	16

Q7. Which party do you want to vote for or has a candidate you want to vote for in the House of Councilors election this summer? (N=865)

Liberal Democratic Party	33
Democratic Party ofJapan	19
Komeito	5
JapanCommunist Party	3
Social Democratic Party	2
The People's New Party	0
The New Party ofJapan	0
Other political party or candidate	2
Independent candidate	9
(Have not made up mind)	8
(Not going to vote)	0
(Cast a blank ballot)	0
(No answer/do not know)	17

Q8. Do you think there should be a change in administration from the ruling party to an opposition party, or not? (N=865)

There should be a change	56
There should not be a change	28
(No answer/do not know)	16

F1. Gender (Determined by the polltaker) (N=865)

Male	42
Female	58
Unknown	0

F2. How old are you? (N=865)

In my 20s	5
In my 30s	17
In my 40s	18
In my 50s	23
In my 60s	18
70 years old or older	17
Refused to answer	2

Average age: 53.5

F3. What is your occupation? Please choose one from the following list. (N=865)

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	4
Employee (company or government employee, teacher, etc.)	43
Self-owned business, self-employed (including a homemaker)	12
Full-time housewife (without job only)	21
Student	1
Unemployed	18
Refused to answer	2