US EditionJapan PM Takaichi's popularity slips on tax-cut pledge
Prime Minister Takaichi’s approval rating dropped from 75% to 67% amid concerns over funding a two-year food tax suspension and a snap election call.
- On Monday, Jan 26, 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating fell to 67% from 75%, slipping below 70% since taking office last October amid voter doubts on her tax-cut pledge.
- Takaichi proposed a two-year suspension of the food tax starting in April within fiscal 2026, saying it would bridge to a refundable credit system and avoid special deficit-financing bonds.
- Funding officials and opposition figures dispute covering the costs; Yoshihiko Noda said around 10 trillion yen is needed, while Takaichi cites reviews of tax measures and subsidies.
- With the Feb. 8 lower-house election approaching, the tax cut has become central to campaigns, and Takaichi warned she would resign if her ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party coalition loses a majority.
- Longer term, the prime minister aims to reform how the national budget is made by convening a national council of ruling and opposition lawmakers to design a refundable tax credit system and allocate funds in initial budgets rather than supplementary budgets.
22 Articles
22 Articles
NHK poll: Takaichi Cabinet approval rate at 59%, disapproval 26%
The latest NHK opinion poll shows the approval rate for Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's Cabinet at 59 percent, down three points from two weeks earlier, and the disapproval rate at 26 percent, up five points.
Prime Minister Takaichi and his rivals debate food tax cuts and rules for foreigners in a campaign dominated by tax policy and the cost of living.
Japan’s Takaichi sees approval dip as tax-cut pledge sparks voter doubts
TOKYO, Jan 26 — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s sky-high poll numbers have slipped as voters raise questions over a recent tax-cut pledge and how it would be financed, according to media surveys released on today.The approval rating for the nationalist leader’s government fell to 67 percent from 75 percent in December, falling “below 70 percent for the first time since she took office last October”, according to a weekend survey by the …
The Columbian
union-bulletin.comTakaichi’s ratings dip as Japan heads into election campaign
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s approval ratings saw a slight dip in several polls conducted over the weekend, pointing to the riskiness of her decision to call a snap election in early February. Read more...
Japan PM Takaichi's high approval rating slips ahead of election
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's public approval rating has slipped in new polling ahead of a national election next month that she has framed as a direct verdict on her stewardship of the world's fourth largest economy.
Channel News Asia
New Strait TimesJapan PM Takaichi's popularity slips on tax-cut pledge
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's sky-high poll numbers have slipped as voters question how she intends to pay for her recent tax-cut pledge, according to media surveys released on Monday (Jan 26).The approval rating for the nationalist leader's government fell to 67 per cent from 75 per cent in
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