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Takaichi’s popularity dips after prioritizing controversial laws

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval ratings dropped in the latest polls as she pushed ahead with some divisive bills despite voters' concerns about the cost of living.

By Sakura Murakami and Akemi Terukina Bloomberg·Jul 21·japantimes.co.jp·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

Takaichi's government support decreased to 53% from 60% in June in an Asahi Shimbun poll, while broadcaster ANN found her popularity fell over 10 points to 49.2%. A separate Mainichi Shimbun survey saw a similar-sized drop to 41%.

Why it matters

The decline in Takaichi's popularity is significant as it may impact her government's ability to pass future legislation, including bills related to the economy and social welfare.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's popularity is dropping because she's making decisions that some people don't agree with. These decisions are about laws that affect women and the economy. Some people are unhappy with how she's handling the country's problems, and that's making her less popular.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Takaichi's government has been facing criticism for its handling of the economy, particularly with regards to inflation. The latest polls suggest that voters are increasingly concerned about the cost of living, with 57% of respondents in the Asahi poll saying they thought Takaichi wasn't doing enough to counter inflation. This is the highest level since she took office. Despite this, Takaichi has stuck to her pledge to cut the sales tax on food for two years, but has pushed out the timeline for discussions on the proposal. This move has been seen as a attempt to placate voters, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to stem the decline in her popularity.

Why Cursor?

The controversy surrounding Takaichi's government has been centered around a number of divisive bills, including one that effectively shuts women out from inheriting Japan's imperial throne. This move has been widely criticized, with many arguing that it is a step backwards for women's rights in Japan. The bill has been passed into law, but it remains to be seen how it will be received by the public. The polls suggest that Takaichi's government is facing a significant backlash, with support for her government decreasing to 53% from 60% in June in an Asahi Shimbun poll. This is a significant decline, and it remains to be seen whether Takaichi's government will be able to recover from this setback.

The Road Ahead

The decline in Takaichi's popularity is significant, and it may impact her government's ability to pass future legislation. The polls suggest that voters are increasingly concerned about the cost of living, and Takaichi's government is facing a significant backlash over its handling of the economy. It remains to be seen how Takaichi's government will respond to this criticism, but it is clear that it will need to take a more proactive approach to addressing the concerns of voters if it is to recover from this setback.

Key points

  • Takaichi's government support decreased to 53% from 60% in June in an Asahi Shimbun poll.
  • Takaichi's popularity fell over 10 points to 49.2% in a broadcaster ANN poll.
  • A separate Mainichi Shimbun survey saw a similar-sized drop to 41%.
  • 57% of respondents in the Asahi poll said they thought Takaichi wasn't doing enough to counter inflation.
  • Takaichi has stuck to her pledge to cut the sales tax on food for two years, but has pushed out the timeline for discussions on the proposal.
The Upside

If Takaichi's government can address the concerns of voters and take a more proactive approach to addressing the cost of living, it may be able to recover from this setback and regain the trust of the public.

The Downside

If Takaichi's government continues to prioritize divisive bills and ignore the concerns of voters, it may face further backlash and potentially even a loss of power.

Originally reported at

japantimes.co.jp

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsjapanpoliticseconomyinflationtakaichi

Author

Sakura Murakami and Akemi Terukina Bloomberg

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 21, 2026

Source

japantimes.co.jp

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Topics

japanpoliticseconomyinflationtakaichi

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