Asahi Shimbun October 2007 Opinion Polls - Cabinet Approval

Dates Conducted

October 13 and 14, 2007

Released

October 16, 2007

Methodology

The poll was conducted by telephone on October 13 and 14, 2007, of voters from across Japan, whose telephone numbers were selected by a computer at random. Subjects were selected using a three-stage random sampling method (the Asahi RDD). The total number of those polled was 1969, with a 57% response rate. The numbers in [ ] are the percentages of those polled as compared to the entire population of those who answered. The numbers in ( ) are the results from a poll conducted on September 25 and 26, 2007, unless otherwise specified.

Key Issues

Support for Prime Minister Fukuda’s administration
Dissolution of the House of Representatives, new election
Japanese Self-Defense Forces operations in the Indian Ocean

Disclaimer

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

Q1. Do you support the Fukuda cabinet, or not?

Support	47%(53)
Do not support	30%(27)

SQ1. Why? (Please select one of the following.) (The results in the left column are those 47% who answered “support,” and the results in the right column are the 30% who answered “do not support.”)

Mr. Fukuda is the Prime Minister	27%[13]	11%[3]
The cabinet is primarily composed of LDP members	21%[10]	44%[13]
Policies of the cabinet	19%[9]	36%[11]
Just because	29%[14]	8%[2]

Q2. Which political party do you currently support?

Liberal Democratic Party	32%(33)
Democratic Party of Japan	24%(25)
Komeito	3%(4)
Japan Communist Party	3%(3)
Social Democratic Party	1%(1)
The People's New Party	0%(0)
The New Party of Japan	0%(0)
Other	0%(0)
Do not support any party	30%(30)
No answer/do not know	7%(4)

Q3. Warships from several countries, including the United States, are deployed in the Indian Ocean, to combat terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The legislation that allows the Self Defense Forces to support coalition warships, known as the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Act, will expire on November 1. The government intends to submit a new bill to the Diet to allow the operations to continue, but the Democratic Party of Japan is opposed to it. Are you in favor of continued operations by the Self Defense Forces in the Indian Ocean, or not? (Numbers in parentheses are results from a poll conducted on September 13, 2007.)

Necessary	39%(35)
Not necessary	44%(45)

Q4. The government has submitted a new bill to the Diet. If passed, it would limit the scope of Self Defense Forces operations in the Indian Ocean to the provision of fuel and water, but would remove the requirement that the scope of operations be approved by the Diet. Do you support this legislation, or oppose it?

Support	28%
Oppose	48%

SQ1. For the 28% of the people who answered “support,” do you think that this bill should be approved as soon as possible, or do you think that there is no need to rush?

As soon as possible	64%(18)
No need to rush	31%(9)

Q5. The government claims that Self Defense Forces operations in the Indian Ocean constitute one step in preventing terror, have the universal support of the international community, and have been highly praised by the United Nations. Are you convinced by the government’s stance, or not?

Convinced	34%
Not convinced	48%

Q6. The Democratic Party of Japan claims that Self Defense Forces activities in the Indian Ocean have no basis in any United Nations resolution and will not suppress terrorism. Are you convinced by the DPJ’s stance, or not?

Convinced	34
Not convinced	44

Q7. Regarding the dispatch of Self Defense Forces to the Indian Ocean, what stance do you think the Democratic Party of Japan should take vis-à-vis the ruling party? Do you think it should hold discussions with the ruling party to find points of agreement, or do you think that it should continue to be opposed?

Hold discussions with the ruling party to find points of agreement	64%
Continue its opposition	22%

Q8. Do you think that the House of Representatives should be dissolved and a general election held as soon as possible? Or do you think that there is no need to rush? (Numbers in parentheses are results from a poll conducted on September 13, 2007.)

As soon as possible	34%(35)
No need to rush	55%(57)

Q9. Do you think that it is a good thing for the administration to be composed mostly of LDP members? Or do you think that there should be a change over to an administration composed primarily of DPJ members? (The numbers in parentheses are the results from a poll conducted on September 13, 2007.)

Composed mostly of LDP members	33%(33)
Change to mostly DPJ members	32%(41)