Support for Japan PM Ishiba slips ahead of key national vote, NHK survey shows

A poor showing in the upper house elections slated for Jul 20 will likely weaken his grip on power further

Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister, speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan Jun 23, 2025. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS

Support for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government has slipped ahead of key national elections next month, a poll showed on Monday, with his cash handout plan to help the public deal with inflation having failed to impress voters.

The current ruling bloc of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and junior partner Komeito lost its lower house majority last year. A poor showing in the upper house elections slated for Jul 20 would likely weaken his grip on power further.

Support for Ishiba's government stands at 34 percent, down from 39 percent in the previous poll three weeks ago, according to the poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK.

The LDP says in its campaign pledges that it plans to give out 20,000 yen ($139) to each individual and an additional 20,000 yen to children as well as adult members of low-income households amid rising prices.

But the NHK poll showed 32 percent of those surveyed do not evaluate the plan very positively and 31 percent do not evaluate the scheme positively at all.