{
  "id": 15398683,
  "title": "Takaichi’s support rate falls below 50%, lowest since taking office, Kyodo reports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/takaichis-support-rate-falls-below-50-lowest-since-taking-office",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T11:11:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/10/18/japan/politics/takaichis-support-rate-falls/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval rating has dropped below 50%, reaching its lowest point since her administration began in October of the previous year, according to Kyodo News Agency. A poll conducted between October 17th and 18th found that Takaichi's support among the public stood at 49.1%. The decline may be attributed to her delayed reaction following the resignation of Kazuo Yana, the nation's farm minister. Yana stepped down on Wednesday after facing criticism for comments about reducing road funding for municipalities that did not endorse him. Notably, 57.7% of respondents felt Takaichi's decision to replace him was \"too late,\" while 81.5% deemed it appropriate for Yana to resign. Takaichi had appointed Yana in a Cabinet reshuffle last month but had publicly criticized him in parliament for his remarks regarding the road funding, which local media reported earlier this month.",
  "summary": "The decline might have been affected by Takaichi's slow response surrounding the resignation of Kazuo Yana as the nation's farm minister.",
  "key_points": [
    "Prime Minister Takaichi's approval rating fell below 50%",
    "Kyodo News Agency conducted a poll from October 17-18",
    "Delayed response to farm minister Kazuo Yana's resignation cited"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}