Public support for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government dropped to a record low after he handed out gift vouchers to some ruling party lawmakers, a poll conducted by the Asahi newspaper showed on Monday.
The approval rating slid 14 percentage points to 26% from the previous survey done in February, the worst since Ishiba took the office last October, according to the March 15-16 poll by the Asahi.
Other polls done by the Yomiuri newspaper and the Mainichi newspaper over the weekend also showed public approval for the Ishiba's cabinet fell to a record low.
Ishiba found himself in a hot water as he handed out gift vouchers worth 100,000 yen each to 15 first-term lower house lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier this month, drawing criticism as it could violate a political law.
Speaking in parliament, Ishiba said he used "pocket money" to hand out gift certificates to the lawmakers before having dinner with them on March 3 as a "show of appreciation" for their hard work getting elected.
The premier said the gift handout didn't violate a political fund law but apologized for his action caused "distrust and anger among many people."
All of the 15 lawmakers returned the gift vouchers to the Ishiba's office, according to Japanese media.
The slide in opinion polls could be a blow to Ishiba's leadership ahead of an upper house election slated for July, and comes at a time when Japan's economy faces headwinds from the escalating trade war waged by U.S. President Donald Trump.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
6 Comments
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The_Beagle
On top of his many gaffs, Ishiba & co. have few if any accomplishments to boost confidence in their ability to govern effectively.
Yubaru
Record low for him. Get it straight!
Blattamexiguus
100,000¥ x 15 = 1,500,000¥
just ‘pocket money’ for this jackass!
for your average Taro working 40hrs a week at minimum wage it’s a lot of money!
so out of touch!
HopeSpringsEternal
Seems a dead man walking, like LOTS of politicians now in office, especially ones who're deemed part of the 'problems' rather than driving towards needed 'solutions'!
kurisupisu
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So, the steak dinners were included in the mix!
Blackstar
Seems a dead man walking, like LOTS of politicians now in office, especially ones who're deemed part of the 'problems' rather than driving towards needed 'solutions'!
Solutions. By which you mean "final solutions". Authoritarianism. No thanks. Keep dreaming.
Not that a Trump-like figure could arise in Japan (judging by political outcomes, the Japanese are relatively sane compared to Americans), but if one did Ishiba would be favoured every day over the week over a buffoon of that type.
Yes, he's quite useless, but at least not disastrous to his country and the world.