Kishida's support tumbles, hit by questions over Unification Church and COVID

@GBR48, meanwhile the rest of the world considers Japan to be an example of how to successfully manage a pandemic.

Japan 38,000 deaths .US 1,066,000. Adjusted for size of population 10 times less in Japan compare to US. Figures speak for themselves.

@GBR48, meanwhile the rest of the world considers Japan to be an example of how to successfully manage a pandemic.

https://www.npr.org/2020/05/26/862654095/what-lies-behind-japans-successful-management-of-the-pandemic

https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/12/12/the-japanese-authorities-understood-covid-19-better-than-most

https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/japan-covid-19-pandemic-response-restrictions-two-years

Any lawmaker in a democracy that has any links with religion should either renounce their religion, or quit their government job. Religion and democracy are incompatible.

Au Contraire. A government that restricts in any way the right of the people to worship as they please cannot call themselves democratic. Freedom to worship is a fundamental human right. A democratic government must remain neutral on religious matters and treat all citizens equally regardless of faith, and that includes the faith of their leaders. One does not forswear their right to worship by taking a public office. For clarity, I am not religious. I don't believe their ridiculous fairy tales. However I have no right to impose this belief on anyone else just as no-one has the right to impose their beliefs on me, but in particular no government has any right to impose restrictions on belief. To do so is about as anti-democratic as it gets.

Seems it’s time for some changes …. Perhaps even a “knee jerk” reaction or 2.!. Propping up big oil with cash so they can minimize price increases ain’t working .!. Time to cut off that atm .!. Completely failing the residents of Japan by every possible metric as it pertains to Covid…. Well that’s also a failed bad idea…. The entire healthcare system has collapsed…. Take care of yourself and avoid a necessary trip to any hospital for any emergency…. Unnecessary deaths at home , hospitals, and hotels won’t get any good ratings either …. Time for something drastic…. The current situation cannot be allowed to continue…. No opinion on the church / fake church issue …. Those whining about the border controls again just don’t comprehend the issue …. Currently, Japan cannot even treat residents properly for any health issues…. Don’t need the potential for anymore…. For now ….

Kishida's support tumbles, hit by questions over Unification Church and COVID

What do you expect? You got half his govt mixed up in a crackpot cult.

Cue Taro Kono to the rescue. The countdown is on. How quickly they rise and fall ay? Kishida was looking good for a bit then bang, the public swings a big overhand hook! Still a bit suspect of these polls though. Ever tried asking a J national about politics? What’s the sound of one hand clapping?

I’m not sure your average Joe ‘picking up the phone’ Tanaka is politically savvy nor really cares.

What exactly would they like him to have done differently? That would be a worthy question.

That said, the press certainly likes to run with them!

I'm glad that Kishida and all his rotting LDP is falling down with pools,but saying that I think he's losing most of the support from the right wing core of his party which can't accept their ultra conservative leaders tied with a South Korean movement which they look down.

The truth is that Japan's old conservative mindset isn't changed and the way to self isolation and economic and social decline due to their draconian and illogical laws will gradually sink their economy as it's already sinking their population.

For sure less foreigners than a decade ago find Japan as an interesting place to work,study or invest their effords,combined with the apathy of the young generations I can't see any positive outcome for this isolationistic nation unless something will change in their mindset.

Sadly the people got what they voted,they kept voting the LDP not for good political programs and despite the scandals,corruptions,abuse of power the same affiliation is warming the chairs in command.

And why? because the LDP for most of them is the only option and because it keeps the ultra conservative mindset and the mantra that Japanese are unique in the world and no one can understand such mindset,therefore there is no necessity in changes.

Sad to say,but nothing will change.

LDP is corrupt to the core- hence low support ..go figure!!

Kishida's support tumbles - and it doesn't matter one little bit.

Whenever there is an election, the LDP will be re-elected, and if Kishida is no longer in charge, he will live in the lap of luxury at our expense until his dying day.

Democracy didn't happen here.

Kishida's support tumbles, hit by questions over Unification Church & COVID:

Messing up politics with religion can invite tough problems.

The Unification Church may not have been in the interest of many Japanese, let alone its tenacious influence over the nation's politicians.

Kishida ought to know better..

Mr Abe's funeral is not being paid for by the government as reported, but by the tax payer. I for one am against such waste for a much despised and aledgedly corrupt politician.

*Then go to South Korea and Thailand. Who cares what you want? When it come Japan's borders it is want the *Japanese people want. AND right know we dont want you!'

I,m shocked and disappointed to read such racism on Japan Today comment board. Many Japanese people working in tourism and running own businesses would welcome overseas tourists. Mr. Kishida please re open Japans borders so we can visit.

@Gaijinjland

Is there anyone on this message board who knows anything about Japan? The LDP is the best of a bad solution. The Old Democratic Party was in power up until the nuclear disaster and earthquake/ tsunami in 2011. They were even worse, ruined the Japan/ US relationship and cozied up to china and Russia. Remember, Obama met five different Japanese PM’s during his eight years before Abe.

More propaganda...

The Old Democratic Party was never in power they held the lower house for three years and was plagued by not being able to get any law changes through the upper house as it was controlled by LDP and all bills were returned without a vote DPJ had 3 Prime ministers during their one term DPJ and LDP both have 1 year PM's that Obama meet.

"cozied up to china and Russia" that was a 2005 joint initiative which started with LDP and the US 4 years prior to DPJ coming to power.

GaijinjlandToday  10:12 am JST

Is there anyone on this message board who knows anything about Japan?

Have you read some of the comments?

The LDP is the best of a bad solution.

The old "there is no alternative so you'll just have to put up with it" argument.

The Old Democratic Party was in power up until the nuclear disaster and earthquake/ tsunami in 2011. 

You kind of make it sound as if the Democratic Party had been running the show and letting the problems pile up. The Democratic Party came to power just two years prior in a landslide, because the LDP were just that bad. Decades of sleaze, corruption, mismanagement, gerrymandering, nepotism? That's all on the LDP.

They were even worse, ruined the Japan/ US relationship and cozied up to china and Russia.

Shinzo Abe made himself a laughing stock with his toadying to Donald Trump and destablised the region with chickenhawk nationalist posturing.

 Remember, Obama met five different Japanese PM’s during his eight years before Abe.

Um... how do you work that out? Abe returned to power in 2012, Obama became president in 2009.

Arguably the last time a PM did anything truly useful was Koizumi

Millions of non-employees carrying their seishain colleagues might not agree.

Is there anyone on this message board who knows anything about Japan? The LDP is the best of a bad solution. The Old Democratic Party was in power up until the nuclear disaster and earthquake/ tsunami in 2011. They were even worse, ruined the Japan/ US relationship and cozied up to china and Russia. Remember, Obama met five different Japanese PM’s during his eight years before Abe.

i am not surprised at all.real numbers are much lower than these fabricated ones for plebs.

Not condoning his actions but Tetsuya Yamagami succeed and then some.

To be fair to Kishida, when was the last time a prime minister of Japan did anything useful?

How can being inept and incompetent be used as a bar for "fairness" in comparing a PM?

Arguably the last time a PM did anything truly useful was Koizumi, and before him, Obuchi, sad he died too young!

But then the majority of people here, probably know nothing about either of these two.

Any lawmaker in a democracy that has any links with religion should either renounce their religion, or quit their government job. Religion and democracy are incompatible.

Love this pic... Kishida, at home with Covid, has even the screen he is on centered in the room and social distanced. The reporters? Packed into small spaces and in direct physical contact with one another to ask questions to a display. Well done, Japan!

The Japanese government may have painted themselves into a corner with their Covid response.

The economy grew without foreign tourists. The only people who needs foreign tourists are foreign business that relie on foreign tourists.

China have a Covid Zero policy. Kishida may be suffering from unrealistic Covid Zero expectations.

According to BBC data, two weeks ago, about 1.7m people (1 in 40) would have tested positive for Covid in the UK, down from 3.5m in early July as the wave wanes. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62606507]

And that is in a country with half the population of Japan. But nobody is particularly bothered.

Whilst those at high risk are still taking precautions as they would with flu, the majority have gone back to normal, sports stadiums are full, holidays are in full swing, and Covid ranks as a minor annoyance, overshadowed by high energy bills.

By highlighting the daily counts, maintaining restrictions and over-emphasising the threat for political reasons, the JP government have made a rod for their own backs. Project Fear has worked too well. With no foreign tourists and other restrictions, the Japanese people expect Covid to go, but it is endemic and will simply wax and wane. That is why the RotW have simply got on with life.

The Japanese government may have painted themselves into a corner with their Covid response.

I thought kishida was falling in the polls because of bad policy decisions like letting the yen lose its value so the small people suffer instead of the government having to pay interest on loans. I'm glad I read this article because now I know that, kishida only needs to clear his name about the church and everything will be great again.

You forgot to add Japan has 2.2 GDP growth and everyone who wants a job has a job. In fact, I thought he was falling in the polls because of how he was handling the covid problem. I think thats in article:

New coronavirus cases remain persistently high, prompting 55% of respondents to say they did not approve of the government's handling of the situation. 

Oh yes it is.

To be fair to Kishida, when was the last time a prime minister of Japan did anything useful?

1)100,000 Yen to every Japanese.

2) Free covid jabs.

Just to name two.

Maybe that’s all more a shadow discussion and not fitting at all surveys or polls. He once made big words with new capitalism, wages significantly rising , also to make the inflation a little more bearable, and all that. People now see, that the discussion is completely different and useless, only about a small but tricky mind sick sect , some rather naive parliamentarians connected to them , because it’s of course difficult to not meet with people who talk of world peace or unification and are publicly present and spread in media globally, and additionally we have some temporarily unpleasant corona numbers. Look, that’s absolutely not the discussion needed, he and the cabinet ( he alone can’t do much, that also should be clear) just have to deliver now a bit from their own agenda, not more not less. We all can’t pay the new moon prices at the supermarket registry with worthless Unification church issues or phrases or a political leader hidden due to corona behind a telework monitor.

According to a survey done at the weekend by the Mainichi Shimbun daily, Kishida's support fell to 36% from 52% a month ago, the lowest since he took office last October.

In a closer look at this and other polls recently published, Kishida-led LDP has been losing support mostly among the older citizens, a major conservative base for the party.

旧統一教会・国葬…高齢世代ほど厳しい評価 FNN世論調査＃2

https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/406261

The UC is definitely a big factor for now freefall of the approval rate. Many people especially traditional LDP supporters are appalled that the dogma of the exploitative cult is totally against the core values of Japan.

Speaking to reporters later on Monday via an electronic screen after contracting COVID-19, Kishida said there was no connection on an organizational level between the LDP and the Unification Church, adding that lawmakers needed to make clear and explain their connections with the religious group

Once it became clear he could not form a cabinet without their members being linked to the unification church it became clear this connection is to generalized to be just individual choices.

Kishida is a shining example showing the whole of Japan that Covid is not a problem anymore.

Time to stop the Covid merry go round!

I don’t understand that picture.

Kishida isn’t even there, he’s on a screen.

You telling me all those fools lined up couldn’t do the same job of watching a screen from their home or office?

Or if they all work in the same building, they couldn’t watch from their desks?

I get that it’s a “staged” photo like most things in Japan, but at least take a photo that makes sense.

Suga and Komeito just opted to spray our money around willy nilly.

Wrong and cuts to the core the LDP influence peddling.

The LDP stimulus was directed largely at Japan Inc., rentier investors and business owners and was consistent and sustained.

The one time 100,000 yen stimlus was a fig leaf to cover this massive wealth transfer, socialism for the rich, between between the public treasury and Japan Inc.

The Unification Church has not used its tax exempt wealth willy-nilly.

They have cunningly used it to curry political influence in Japan and elesewhere.

In addition Mr Kishida doesn't have the charisma and boyish charm of his predecessor Mr Suga.

It's the same pattern all the time. Japan votes LDP, support dwindles (duh), then re-shuffle the cabinet. Rinse, repeat.

that would be Suga providing financial assistance to all citizens and residents.

Not a fan. That’s our money, not Suga’s.

Lots of households were doing fine during the pandemic, all that money handouts did there was needlessly increase the public debt.

To the extent that people needed assistance, it should have been through existing welfare and unemployment programs. And to the extent those programs are insufficient, they should be revised.

Suga and Komeito just opted to spray our money around willy nilly.

I thought kishida was falling in the polls because of bad policy decisions like letting the yen lose its value so the small people suffer instead of the government having to pay interest on loans. I'm glad I read this article because now I know that, kishida only needs to clear his name about the church and everything will be great again.

Why is it so complicated? LDP members should be formally asked to declare in public weather they are connected to the UC or not!! then let the public decide.

Define organization level,if official with the church was knowing in touch ,with the church,that was an organization meeting

The simple truth is that there are many members and supporters within the LDP of the UC.

But they don’t acknowledge that everyone knows that and like old entitled elites (that they are) they pretend that calls to check themselves from within about it anger the public even more.

And Japan has had the worst covid statistics on earth for several weeks. More people infected (200,000-250,000 daily) and die (200-300) daily. Why hasn’t that been ever discussed.

No need to be fair towards Kishina until he does his job and is fair on the population rather then companies, religious groups. Japanese politicians live in their own world, citizens are those faceless meat bags they draw their government car curtains closed so they don’t see.

On Sunday, Kishida himself tested positive, forcing him to cancel a vacation trip to an aid conference in Tunisia.

Isnt this where your vice-PM should step in and take over?

He definitely deserves to take a beating in the polls for how he has governed the country so far. I'm worried it's for the wrong reasons though. Are people upset that he didn't try failed measures to contain the virus like Suga? That he didn't try to reduce dining hours and close bars? That he didn't increase border controls beyond how stringent they already are?

Part of the problem in Japan is that the young people simply aren't pushing back enough on the elderly who support all of these terrible ideas. And what do they have to show for it? Low wages, long hours, no holidays, and a culture that insists on doing things other countries do easily the hard way.

I've travelled through both Haneda as a foreign resident (under slightly laxed controls from where they were months ago) and London-Heathrow as a tourist and the difference is night and day. How can people still defend this?

Not just Kishida. The whole LDP is tainted. Is there any other party (hint hint) who can lead this country?

Well one thing is quite apparent, he definitely isn't anywhere close to being the "Teflon Man".

Come on Japan...don't be so backward a country..OPEN up to tourists...To many regulations. Easy to enter South Korea...Thailand is totally OPEN ( just be vaccinated, get on the plane and enjoy) .welcome everyone, except Japan....I want to visit...waiting...come on open up

To be fair to Kishida, when was the last time a prime minister of Japan did anything useful?

The voters keep voting for the LDP, hence they keep getting more LDP “leadership”.

Kashida san has been the Prime Minister for awhile now and so far has done very little for the people of Japan in terms of business, society in general, assistance to the general public as it pertains to the pandemic relief funds, and the list just goes on and on. I fear for Japan if Kashida san is the best Japan has to offer.