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YOMIURI SHIMBUN NOVEMBER 2007 OPINION POLLS (P07-37)

Yomiuri Shimbun November 2007 Opinion Polls

Dates Conducted

November 10-11, 2007

Released

Publishing date not available

Copyright

Yomiuri Shimbun

Methodology

Yomiuri conducted the poll in individual interviews on November 10 and 11, 2007, using a stratified two-stage random sample of 3,000 voters in 250 different locations. 1,810 people, or 60.3% of those selected, responded.

Key Issues

Evaluation of the Fukuda administration/Cabinet
Resumption of Maritime Self Defense Forces refueling activities
Pension system/reform
"Politics and money" issue

Disclaimer

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

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

Support	52.2% (59.1)
Do not support	36.0% (26.7)
Other	3.3% (3.1)
Do not know; No answer	8.6% (11.2)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

SQ1. [For those who answered “Support” to Q1]

Please select up to two reasons from the following list for why you support the Fukuda cabinet.

Positively evaluate its political stance	28.0% (25.3)
Feel that it is stable	37.6% (43.7)
Can trust the Prime Minister	28.6% (28.5)
Positively evaluate its economic policies	7.1% (8.0)
Positively evaluate its foreign policy	6.6% (8.6)
It is a coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party	7.4% (6.5)
Fukuda is an LDP Prime Minister	19.7% (13.2)
It is better than previous cabinets	19.4% (19.2)
Other; Do not know; No answer	4.3% (5.4)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

SQ2. [Those who answered “Do not support” to Q1 only]

Please select up to two reasons from the following list for why you do not support the Fukuda cabinet.

Cannot positively evaluate its political stance	31.2% (28.8)
Do not feel that the cabinet is stable	25.2% (25.7)
Cannot trust the Prime Minister	21.0% (23.6)
Cannot support the administration’s economic policies	29.3% (26.9)
Cannot support the administration’s foreign policy	12.1% (12.0)
It is a coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party	19.5% (20.1)
Fukuda is an LDP Prime Minister	13.2%(14.7)
It is worse than previous cabinets	4.9% (4.8)
Other; Do not know; No answer	4.8% (5.8)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q2. From list below, please select all applicable issues you would like the Fukuda cabinet to prioritize and address:

Economic conditions/job security	55.2% (51.1)
Fiscal reconstruction	19.4% (20.5)
Tax reform and the issue of the consumption tax	31.0% (31.5)
Social security reform, including pensions and healthcare	60.7% (66.0)
Support for child care and countermeasures for declining birthrates	27.0% (26.8)
Education reform	19.1% (18.2)
Problems of income disparities	25.7% (22.6)
Administrative reform, such as cutting back the number of government employees	18.3% (16.3)
Politics and money issues	35.4% (35.0)
Foreign policy toward Asia, including China and South Korea	10.5% (14.1)
Issues with North Korea	20.4% (26.5)
National defense and security	13.7% (12.9)
Constitutionalrevision	5.5% (5.6)
Disaster prevention and crisis management	8.2% (8.7)
Public safety and crime prevention	17.3% (18.4)
Environmental protection	19.8% (21.3)
Food safety	27.2% (22.6)
Other; Nothing special; Do not know; No answer	3.3% (2.9)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q3. How long do you want the Fukuda Cabinet to continue? Please select one from the list of responses.

As long as possible	25.3% (32.3)
2 or 3 years	25.0% (25.3)
About 1 year	22.4% (18.7)
About half a year	9.1% ( 7.3)
Want resignation as soon as possible	12.3% ( 8.8)
Other	1.8% ( 0.4)
Do not know; No answer	4.1% ( 7.2)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q4. Which political party do you currently support? Please select one:

Liberal Democratic Party	34.3% (37.8)
Democratic Party of Japan	22.5% (18.0)
Komeito Party	2.7% (2.9)
Japan Communist Party	2.3% (2.5)
Social Democratic Party of Japan	1.1% (0.9)
The New People’s Party	0.2%(---)
The New Party Nippon	0.2% (0.1)
Other	0.1%(---)
Do not support any party	36.0% (36.9)
Do not know; No answer	0.6% (0.8)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q5. Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force vessels were sent to the Indian Ocean to carry out refueling activities in support of the multinational army fighting the war on terror in Afghanistan. However, the law permitting this activity expired on November 1, and their mission was brought to an end. Do you approve or are you against the continuation of the Maritime Self Defense Force refueling activities?

Approve	50.6%
Against	40.3%
Do not know; No answer	9.2%

SQ1. [For those who answered "Support" to Q5 only]

Please select as many from the follow as apply as to your reason for approval.

Japan should also participate in the war against terrorism	24.3%
Activities up until now have been received well internationally	45.5%
The activities are necessary to maintain good relations with the U.S.	36.9%
The stability of the Indian Ocean is important to Japan, which uses the ocean in importing oil	35.1%
It is a relatively safe activity	15.3%
Other	1.0%
Do not know; No answer	1.3%

SQ2. [For those who answered "Against" to Q5 only]

Please select as many from the follow as apply as to your reason for your disapproval.

The activityviolates the Constitution	26.6%
The supplied fuel may have been diverted for use in the Iraq War	47.2%
Japan does not need to comply with the U.S.’ demands	42.1%
Japan should cooperate in another area, like civilian support	35.0%
There have been several instances of misconduct in the Ministry of Defense	19.5%
Other	4.4%
Do not know; No answer	0.8%

Q6.To continue the Maritime Self Defense Force refueling activities, the government has submitted a new bill to the Diet that limits MSDF activities to supplying fuel and water; these activities can then be renewed for one-year periods without Diet approval. Do you support this bill or not?

Support	48.7%
Against	38.8 %
Do not know; No answer	12.5 %

Q7. If the refueling activities go unresumed, do you think Japan's international reputation would improve, worsen, or not change?

Improve	4.2%
Worsen	51.2%
Would not change	38.8
Do not know; No answer	5.8%

Q8. In the recent meeting between party leaders, Prime Minister Fukuda and Democratic Party of Japan leader Ozawa talked about creating a Grand Coalition between the LDP and the DPJ to break through the current political impasse between the ruling and opposition parties. However, the DPJ did not accept this. Do you think it would be good for the LDP and the DPJ to create a coalition government; to hold policy negotiations by individual issue; or do you think there is no need to cooperate at all?

Create a coalition government	12.0%
Hold policy negotiations on each issue	65.7%
No need to cooperate	16.7%
Do not know; No answer	5.6%

Q9. DPJ leader Ozawa offered to resign as party head to take responsibility for creating confusion within the DJP over his talks with Prime Minister Fukuda about creating a Grand Coalition. He later retracted his resignation and decided to stay on as party head. Do you find Ozawa’s decision to stay on acceptable or not?

Acceptable	35.7%
Not acceptable	56.4%
Do not know; No answer	7.9%

Q10. Do you think the Democratic Party of Japan has the capacity to govern or not?

Yes	32.4%
No	58.1%
Do not know; No answer	9.5%

The following questions are related to national, employee, and mutual pensions.

Q11. Overall, do you have confidence in the national pension system or not?

Yes	12.7%
Generally yes	20.2%
Generally no	25.4%
No	40.7%
Do not know; No answer	1.0%

Q12. If there is anything you are dissatisfied with about the national pension system, please choose as many from the following as apply.

Insurance fees are expensive	29.7%
Amount of pension is low	40.5%
Age at which pension payments begin is high	22.3%
Depending on one's generation, insurance fees and pension amount differs	19.9%
Do not know how much pension will be provided in the future	36.9%
Pension records have gone missing	41.9%
Pension funds have been misappropriated	45.6%
Insurance fees are being used for things other than pensions	43.3%
There are people who do not pay their national pension fees	29.4%
The system is hard to understand	25.2%
Other	1.1%
Nothing in particular	3.4%
Do not know; No answer	0.5%

Q13. If you were to live your post-retirement years as a husband-and-wife couple, what is the smallest amount of money per month you could live on? Please choose one from the following.

More than 11,000 yen	1.3%
More than 21,500 yen	10.0%
More than 32,000 yen	29.1%
More than 42,500 yen	25.4%
More than 53,000 yen	23.6%
More than 63,500 yen	5.6%
More than 74,000 yen	3.0%
More than 84,500 yen	0.4%
More than 95,000 yen	0.3%
Other;Do not know; No answer	1.4%

Q14. In your post-retirement years, to what degree do you want to rely on national pensions? Please choose one from the following.

Have all living expenses covered	24.8% (23.2)
Have most of living expenses covered	41.8% (39.1)
About half pension and half other income	20.1% (18.0)
Mainly rely on other income, using pension for only part of living expenses	6.9% ( 9.0)
Keep pension only as pocket money	3.7% ( 6.5)
Not rely at all on pension	1.5%( 3.1)
Other	0.1%( 0.1)
Do not know; No answer	1.2% ( 1.1)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q15. In your post-retirement years, do you have anything you can rely on besides national pension? If so, please select as many as apply from the following.

Deposits and savings	56.4%
Retirement benefits/corporate pension	31.0%
Private pension	10.9%
Property rent, house rent, dividends	5.5%
Real estate	3.9%
Support from family/children	8.7%
Plan to work for money	23.3%
Other	0.2%
Nothing in particular	17.1%
Do not know; No answer	0.8%

Q16. To maintain pensions and the social security system more generally, some are of the opinion that a tax raise is unavoidable. Do you a tax raise is unavoidable or not?

Yes	24.4%
Generally yes	25.3%
Generally no	16.6%
No	31.5%
Do not know; No answer	2.2%

Q17. In the social security-related budget, a larger proportion is allocated to elderly people while a smaller proportion is allocated to the next generation in items such as child-raising assistance. Do you think the budget for child-raising assistance should be increased, even if that means lowering the budget for the elderly?

Yes	21.8%
Generally yes	23.6%
Generally no	20.3%
No	25.7%
Do not know; no answer	8.6%

Q18. Currently, a housewife in a corporate employee’s household is exempt from paying national pension premiums. Do you think this scheme is fine as is or needs reform?

Fine as is	54.2% (49.0)
Needs reform	39.3% (44.7)
Do not know;No answer	6.5% ( 6.2)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2007

Q19. In terms of the relationship between an individual’s taxes/insurance fees and the future of the social security system, which of the following two opinions is closest to your way of thinking?

To maintain the level of social security, it is permissible for taxes/insurance fees rise	31.7%
Taxes/insurance fees should not be allowed to increase, even if the level of social security decreases	29.3%
Cannot say either way	37.5%
Do not know; No answer	1.5%

Q20. In the missing pension records issue, the government is taking measures to complete investigations of the 50 million missing records by March of next year. Do you think these government measures will bring the missing pension records issue to a resolution or not?

Yes	24.9%
No	72.2%
Do not know; No answer	3.0%

Q21. Concerning the payment of basic pension, which all pensioners receive, there are two opinions: A) maintain the current system, where insurance premiums are the major source of revenue and people who have made payments can receive pension or B) make consumption tax and other taxes the only source of revenue and shift to a system where all citizens can receive pension benefits. Which opinion is closest to your way of thinking?

Opinion A	49.3%
Generally Opinion A	19.0%
Generally Opinion B	11.1%
Opinion B	14.7%
Do not know; No answer	5.9%

Q22. If you think there is a political party that is actively tackling the issue of the national pension system, please select as many from the following as apply.

Liberal Democratic Party	22.0%
Democratic Party of Japan	31.7%
Komeito Party	5.3%
Japan Communist Party	5.7%
Social Democratic Party of Japan	4.3%
The New People’s Party	0.8%
New Party Nippon	0.8%
Other party	---
None in particular	45.2%
Do not know; No answer	3.6%

Q23. What pension plan are you currently enrolled in? Please choose one from the following.

National pension plan (self-employed, wives of corporate employees, students over 20 years old, etc.)	39.6%
Employee pension plan (salaried workers in private sector)	44.9%
Mutual aid pension plan (government employees, teachers, organization workers)	7.6%
Not enrolled	7.0%
Do not know; No answer	0.9%

The following questions are related to “politics and money” issues.

Q24. There have been a series of scandals over “politics and money.” Please choose one from the following that most closely expresses your feelings about this.

Feel indignant	29.4%
Am fed up	31.2%
This is the way all politicians are	16.9%
It cannot be helped as politics costs too much money	2.5%
Preventative measures must be taken ASAP	17.3%
Other	0.6%
Nothing in particular	1.6%
Do not know; No answer	0.6%

Q25. What do you think the underlying reason is that “politics and money” problems do not go away? Please choose as many from the following as apply.

It costs money to do political activities	27.6%
Politicians have low morals	68.1%
There are loopholes/deficiencies in the law	40.7%
Voters have low awareness	20.8%
Law enforcement authority investigations are insufficient	19.9%
Disclosure of information is insufficient	28.2%
Other	0.8%
Do not know; No answer	1.7%

Q26.

S1. If you think there is a political party that is actively tackling the issue of “politics and money,” please select as many from the following as apply.

Liberal Democratic Party	7.6%
Democratic Party of Japan	21.3%
Komeito Party	4.2%
Japan Communist Party	16.1%
Social Democratic Party of Japan	6.9%
The New People’s Party	0.8%
Other party	0.1%
None in particular	54.9%
Do not know; No answer	4.7%

S2. Conversely, if you think there is a political party that is not actively tackling the issue of “politics and money,” please select as many from the following as apply from the same list.

Liberal Democratic Party	41.5%
Democratic Party of Japan	8.9%
Komeito Party	8.4%
Japan Communist Party	4.3%
Social Democratic Party of Japan	4.1%
The New People’s Party	3.1%
Other party	---
None in particular	44.7%
Do not know; No answer	7.1%

Q27. On income and expenditure reports on political funds, there are two opinions: A) to make accounts transparent, receipts for all expenditures one yen and over should be disclosed or B) the expenditures to be disclosed should start from a larger amount, as otherwise clerical work and resulting costs will increase. Which opinion is closest to your way of thinking?

Opinion A	48.7%
Generally Opinion A	15.7%
Generally Opinion B	15.1%
Opinion B	16.9%
Do not know; No answer	3.6%

Q28. Do you agree that if a politician is working very hard, the fact that some costs are incurred is something that cannot be helped?

Agree	58.8%
Disagree	38.7%
Do not know; No answer	2.5%

Q29. On political funds/asset reports, do you think the way a politician takes responsibility for a simple mistake in filling out the forms should be differentiated from a purposeful inaccuracy?

Yes	70.2%
No	26.2%
Do not know; No answer	3.6%

Q30. At present, the government pays a total of more than 30 billion yen annually to the six political parties as party subsidies. Do you think these subsidies are being used effectively or not?

Yes	5.6%
No	86.5%
Do not know; No answer	7.9%

Q31. Do you think you would like to donate money to a political party/politician or purchase a party fundraising ticket or not?

Yes	4.3%
No	92.4%
Do not know; No answer	3.3%

SQ. [For those who answered “No” to Q31 only]

Please select as many as apply from the following as to why you do not want to donate money to a political party/politician or purchase a party fundraising ticket.

There is no party/politician I want to donate to	30.9%
I would get nothing in return	18.4%
It would not be used effectively	54.9%
There is no tax incentive for donations, etc.	5.5%
Do not have the extra money	41.2%
Do not know how to donate	9.7%
Enough is donated by corporations, etc.	8.5%
Parties receive subsidies from taxes	31.4%
Other; Nothing in particular;Do not know; No answer	4.6%

Fundamental Characteristics of the Survey Sample:

Regional Distribution

Hokkaido, Tohoku	12.4%
Kanto	30.0%
Chubu	19.3%
Kinki	17.8%
Chugoku, Shikoku	8.8%
Kyushu	11.7%

City Scale

Large metropolitan areas (Tokyo’s 23 wards and ordinance-designated cities)	23.3%
Large mid-sized cities (cities with population over 300,000)	17.7%
Mid-sized cities (cities with population over 100,000)	24.3%
Small cities (cities with population under 100,000)	22.9%
Towns and villages	11.8%

The scale is based on the established standards as of September 30, 2007

Gender Distribution

Male	49.8%
Female	50.2%

Age Distribution (in years)

20-24	4.3%
25-29	5.4%
30-34	7.3%
35-39	9.1%
40-44	8.2%
45-49	8.8%
50-54	9.1%
55-59	11.3%
60-69	20.5%
Over 70 years old	16.0%

Educational Background

Elementary/middle-school graduate	13.4%
High-school student or graduate	49.9%
College/junior-college student or graduate	36.1%
Do not know; No answer	0.6%

Occupational Background

[Self-employed]	14.2%
[Salaried worker]	46.0%
[Other]	39.8%
Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing	3.6%
Business/Industry/Service	9.1%
Freelance Professional	1.4%
Management/Professional	4.8%
Office worker/Skill industry	18.9%
Labor/Service	22.4%
Housewife	20.5%
Domestic woman other than a housewife	3.8%
Student	1.3%
Other; Unemployed; No answer	14.3%

Household Annual Income (in Japanese yen)

Below 2 million	11.5%
In between 2 and 4 million	24.3%
In between 4 and 6 million	23.7%
In between 6 and 8 million	13.8%
In between 8 and 10 million	5.7%
Over 10 million	5.9%
Do not know; No answer	15.1%

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