Poll: Support for PM Takaichi Cabinet Among Youth Drops Below 50% for First Time
A Mainichi Shimbun national poll in May shows support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet among those aged 18-29 fell to 45%, dropping below 50% for the first time. Overall cabinet support stands at 50%, declining for three consecutive months. The decline is attributed to rising prices and dissatisfaction with the government's price measures.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 13:49
- 🔍 Collected: June 5, 2026 at 13:58 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 15:12 (25h 13m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 5th Combined Foreign News) A characteristic of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet has been high support among younger demographics, but this support has been declining since March. A recent national opinion poll by a Japanese newspaper shows that support for the Takaichi cabinet among those aged 18 to 29 is 45%, dropping below 50% for the first time.
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a national opinion poll on May 23 and 24, releasing the results today. Overall support for the Takaichi cabinet is 50%, down 3 percentage points from April, marking a decline for three consecutive months. The report analyzes that this may reflect the decline in support among younger generations.
After its launch in October last year, the Takaichi cabinet maintained high approval ratings, particularly staying above 65% for the first three months. Although it fell below 60% in January this year, support recovered to the 60% range after the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in February. However, it began to decline from March onwards.
The Mainichi Shimbun points out that the background is a change in support among younger generations. At the start of the Takaichi cabinet, support among the youth was very high. From October last year to February this year, support among those aged 18-29 ranged from 70% to 76%, and among those in their 30s from 68% to 76%, driving the overall cabinet approval rating.
However, the situation began to change in March. Support among those aged 18-29 fell by 9 percentage points from February to 61% in March, then dropped to 51% in April. Support among those in their 30s for the Takaichi cabinet fell by 10 percentage points to 62% in March, and dropped to 54% in April.
In May, support among those in their 30s decreased by 1 percentage point, remaining almost unchanged at 53%, but support among those aged 18-29 continued to decline.
The Mainichi Shimbun speculates that the change in attitude among younger people seems to be related to rising prices. In a March survey asking about the Takaichi government's price measures, only 16% of those aged 18-29 and those in their 30s gave a "positive evaluation."
In an April survey asking whether they thought the Takaichi government's price measures were sufficient, the percentage of these two younger groups who thought they were "sufficient" was lower than those who thought they were "insufficient." The report analyzes that while younger people previously had high hopes for the Takaichi cabinet, they are now developing critical views.
Furthermore, looking at support for the Takaichi cabinet in May by age group, it was 45% for those aged 18-29, 53% for those in their 30s, 54% for those in their 40s, 52% for those in their 50s, 56% for those in their 60s, and 46% for those aged 70 and over.
This shows that support for the Takaichi cabinet among those aged 70 and over is below 50%. Additionally, support is low among the younger generation (18-29) and the elderly (70+), but relatively high among those in their 30s to 60s.
Moreover, the Mainichi Shimbun's late May poll shows that overall support for the Takaichi cabinet (50%) still exceeds the disapproval rate (33%). However, the support structure of the Takaichi cabinet, which was favored by a wide range of age groups and centered on the young and middle-aged, appears to be quietly beginning to change.
On the other hand, the disapproval rate for the Takaichi cabinet is 25% for both the 18-29 and 30-something age groups, 29% for those in their 40s and 50s, 32% for those in their 60s, and 43% for those aged 70 and over. This shows that the older the age group, the higher the disapproval rate for the Takaichi cabinet. The rate for those aged 70 and over remains almost at the same level.
Additionally, when the poll asked younger people if they supported the Takaichi cabinet, a relatively high number answered "cannot answer," indicating that some young people are wavering between support and non-support. (Editor: Yang Weijing) 1150605
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a national opinion poll on May 23 and 24, releasing the results today. Overall support for the Takaichi cabinet is 50%, down 3 percentage points from April, marking a decline for three consecutive months. The report analyzes that this may reflect the decline in support among younger generations.
After its launch in October last year, the Takaichi cabinet maintained high approval ratings, particularly staying above 65% for the first three months. Although it fell below 60% in January this year, support recovered to the 60% range after the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the House of Representatives election in February. However, it began to decline from March onwards.
The Mainichi Shimbun points out that the background is a change in support among younger generations. At the start of the Takaichi cabinet, support among the youth was very high. From October last year to February this year, support among those aged 18-29 ranged from 70% to 76%, and among those in their 30s from 68% to 76%, driving the overall cabinet approval rating.
However, the situation began to change in March. Support among those aged 18-29 fell by 9 percentage points from February to 61% in March, then dropped to 51% in April. Support among those in their 30s for the Takaichi cabinet fell by 10 percentage points to 62% in March, and dropped to 54% in April.
In May, support among those in their 30s decreased by 1 percentage point, remaining almost unchanged at 53%, but support among those aged 18-29 continued to decline.
The Mainichi Shimbun speculates that the change in attitude among younger people seems to be related to rising prices. In a March survey asking about the Takaichi government's price measures, only 16% of those aged 18-29 and those in their 30s gave a "positive evaluation."
In an April survey asking whether they thought the Takaichi government's price measures were sufficient, the percentage of these two younger groups who thought they were "sufficient" was lower than those who thought they were "insufficient." The report analyzes that while younger people previously had high hopes for the Takaichi cabinet, they are now developing critical views.
Furthermore, looking at support for the Takaichi cabinet in May by age group, it was 45% for those aged 18-29, 53% for those in their 30s, 54% for those in their 40s, 52% for those in their 50s, 56% for those in their 60s, and 46% for those aged 70 and over.
This shows that support for the Takaichi cabinet among those aged 70 and over is below 50%. Additionally, support is low among the younger generation (18-29) and the elderly (70+), but relatively high among those in their 30s to 60s.
Moreover, the Mainichi Shimbun's late May poll shows that overall support for the Takaichi cabinet (50%) still exceeds the disapproval rate (33%). However, the support structure of the Takaichi cabinet, which was favored by a wide range of age groups and centered on the young and middle-aged, appears to be quietly beginning to change.
On the other hand, the disapproval rate for the Takaichi cabinet is 25% for both the 18-29 and 30-something age groups, 29% for those in their 40s and 50s, 32% for those in their 60s, and 43% for those aged 70 and over. This shows that the older the age group, the higher the disapproval rate for the Takaichi cabinet. The rate for those aged 70 and over remains almost at the same level.
Additionally, when the poll asked younger people if they supported the Takaichi cabinet, a relatively high number answered "cannot answer," indicating that some young people are wavering between support and non-support. (Editor: Yang Weijing) 1150605
FAQ
Why did the Takaichi cabinet's youth support rate drop?
Rising prices are the main cause. Evaluation of the government's price measures was low, with only 16% of youth giving a positive rating in the March survey.
Which age group has the highest support for the Takaichi cabinet?
In the May survey, those in their 60s had the highest support at 56%, followed by those in their 40s at 54%.
When was this survey conducted?
It was conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun from May 23 to 24, 2025.