Poll Plunge: How Japanese PM Sanae Takagi Turned High Approval into a 'Death Cross' in Just 8 Months

When Sanae Takagi became Japan's Prime Minister in October 2025, her cabinet's approval rating soared above 65%, marking one of the highest post-war launch ratings in Japanese history. After the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the February 2026 general election, her support stabilized around 60%, leading many analysts to believe that Japan's first female prime minister could sustain a long-term administration.

However, just eight months later, the situation took a sharp downturn. Starting in mid-July 2026, multiple major Japanese media outlets reported a sudden collapse in cabinet support. Polls conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and NHK showed approval dropping below 40%, with disapproval overtaking approval—forming a so-called 'death cross'—on several occasions.

The collapse has been attributed to a lack of concrete economic measures, delayed responses to inflation, factionalism in bureaucratic appointments, and criticism over attempts to control media narratives. In particular, the 'New Growth Strategy' announced in May 2026 was widely criticized by markets and experts as 'empty' and a mere rehash of existing policies, triggering a loss of public trust.

Further damaging the administration, in June 2026, a scandal emerged involving the misuse of official resources by a close aide serving as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. Although Prime Minister Takagi stated it was 'an individual matter, not a cabinet-wide issue,' the public perceived it as a lack of accountability, accelerating the erosion of her support base.

Local government leaders and LDP members in regional districts have expressed concerns, saying 'campaigning has become difficult,' reflecting growing unease within the party. While some influential lawmakers argue for an early general election to seek public mandate, others warn that defeat would be certain under current conditions.

Political analyst Seiichiro Tanaka noted, 'The Takagi administration rode the bubble of initial expectations but failed to deliver tangible results. The rapid decline in support reflects how the symbolic image of Japan’s first female prime minister has quickly faded due to policy emptiness.'

Going forward, Prime Minister Takagi's strategic choices will be closely watched. Bold economic initiatives or major personnel reshuffles may be necessary to restore public confidence, but time is running short.