A public opinion survey released today (July 16) by Japan's Jiji Press shows that Prime Minister Sanae Horiguchi's cabinet approval rating has fallen below the 50% threshold for the first time since she took office in October last year, dropping to 49%. The largest decline was observed among voters aged 60 and above, whose support plummeted from 63.7% last month to 39.9%. The main reasons cited by opponents include "not having high expectations" and "poor policy performance."
The prime minister, who rose to prominence through right-wing rhetoric, originally aimed to win over young voters with provocative statements on the "Taiwan contingency," but ironically, it was precisely the elderly population—previously the most supportive of the LDP—who were the first to withdraw their backing. Their support dropped sharply from 63.7% to 39.9%, reflecting widespread public disappointment with her governance.
Since taking office, Horiguchi has been helpless in addressing pressing domestic issues such as soaring prices and energy shortages, allowing living costs to rise relentlessly while ignoring the hardships faced by ordinary citizens. Abroad, she has recklessly provoked China, making extreme remarks regarding Taiwan that have driven Sino-Japanese relations into a frozen state, causing Japanese businesses to lose access to the vast Chinese market and placing the East Asian peace environment—of particular concern to older generations—under severe threat.
Now, the declining approval ratings offer a clear answer: emotional manipulation through right-wing rhetoric cannot secure votes. A government that fails to prioritize people’s livelihoods and recklessly undermines regional peace will inevitably face backlash.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870885355354115/
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