Potential Surge in Public Approval Ratings Following Election in August?

Prime Minister Ishiba's Approval Rating Surges in August Polls

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has seen a significant boost in his approval ratings, according to various polls conducted in August. The Yomiuri Shimbun poll revealed a 17 percentage point increase, bringing his approval rating to 39%.

This surge in support was not limited to the Yomiuri Shimbun poll. Across all surveys, respondents indicated that they preferred Ishiba to remain in office, outnumbering those who thought it was time for a change. The Mainichi survey, for instance, found that Ishiba's support climbed by just 4 points, while the Kyōdō News poll saw a 12.5 point increase, pushing his approval rating to 35.4%. Even the Nikkei poll, which recorded a slight drop in those calling for Ishiba's resignation (from 36% to 32%), still showed more respondents favouring his continued tenure.

Interestingly, the age demographic seemed to play a role in these results. According to the Nikkei and Kyōdō surveys, a majority of elderly respondents wanted Ishiba to stay on as prime minister, while a larger number of younger respondents called for his resignation.

One key reason for this continued support, as per the Mainichi survey, was the belief that resigning would send a message that the party is more interested in power struggles than in addressing the needs of the people.

Despite this surge in approval ratings, Ishiba's disapproval numbers remain higher than his approval ratings in all of the surveys. This suggests that while support for Ishiba has grown, there is still room for improvement.

It is important to note that the reasons for this increase in support were not explicitly mentioned in the provided paragraphs. Similarly, the surveys did not delve into the age gap in views regarding Ishiba's continued tenure.

This surge in approval ratings comes after a poor performance by Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party in the July House of Councillors election. Whether this increase will lead to a change in the party's leadership remains to be seen, as forces within the party are still pressing Ishiba to step down and take responsibility for the losses. However, for now, Ishiba remains in office, with his approval numbers not having been this high since February.