Approval Ratings Largely Level for Takaichi Following Limited Impact of September Cabinet Reshuffle
A September 17 cabinet reshuffle brought Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae some welcome news on the public support front, but her approval ratings remained generally unchanged, with attention focused on the taint of scandal and prospects for future policy.
According to the latest opinion polls from Japan's eight major media organizations, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's approval ratings remain largely unchanged, sitting between 44% and 62%. Following her cabinet reshuffle on September 17, 2026, results varied among the various surveys.
Three surveys conducted before the reshuffle—by Sankei Shimbun, NHK, and Jiji Press—showed Takaichi's support ratings remaining flat compared to the previous month. However, Jiji Press noted a 4.3-point drop to 44.1%, marking a fourth straight monthly decline since Takaichi took office in October 2025. After the reshuffle, five media firms surveyed public opinion, with results trending more positively.
Among these, Kyōdō News and the Yomiuri Shimbun both saw increases of over 3 points from their August polls, while the Mainichi Shimbun's approval rate rose by 4 points to 45%. This marked the first time since March that the Mainichi's approval rate exceeded its disapproval rate. In both the Yomiuri and Kyōdō polls, more respondents approved of the cabinet reshuffle than disapproved.
The Nikkei survey's numbers were comparable to August, recording an approval rating of 62%. However, the Asahi Shimbun's approval rating fell by 2 points month on month.
Commenting on the survey results, the Yomiuri pointed out the positive response to retaining key cabinet ministers in Takaichi's reshuffle. Meanwhile, Kyōdō noted that Takaichi had failed to present a fresh image by retaining many key ministers in their posts, achieving only a limited boost to public approval. One consistent finding across all polls was the negative views respondents held regarding Takaichi's selection of lawmakers for cabinet posts and key Liberal Democratic Party positions, despite any issues with their political funding.
These negative trends were also evident in polls taken before the reshuffle. For instance, 68.6% of respondents in the Jiji survey opposed appointing lawmakers involved in the unreported funds issue to cabinet or party leadership positions, while 71.6% in the Sankei poll held the same view. After the reshuffle, similar responses were reported, with 66.6% of respondents in the Kyōdō poll and 64% in the Nikkei poll describing these appointments as "inappropriate," with a significant majority in the Asahi (68%) and Mainichi (61%) survey results calling them a "problem."
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