A survey conducted in late July by Asahi Shimbun revealed that an overwhelming 74 percent of voters do not advocate for Fumio Kishida to continue as Japan's prime minister once the ruling Liberal Democratic Party holds its leadership election in September. Only 18 percent of voters expressed a desire for Kishida to retain his position, highlighting a clear lack of support for his leadership.
In terms of selecting a favored replacement for Kishida, respondents were split between Shigeru Ishiba, a former LDP secretary-general, and Shinjiro Koizumi, a former environment minister. The survey results indicated that there is no distinct front-runner among potential successors to Kishida, further emphasizing the uncertainty and division within the electorate regarding the future of Japan's leadership.
Despite a slight improvement in the Kishida Cabinet's approval ratings, with a rise from 22 percent to 26 percent between June and July surveys, there remains notable dissatisfaction among voters. Especially concerning for Kishida is the sentiment within the LDP supporter base, where a majority of 57 percent expressed opposition to his re-election as party president and continuation as prime minister, compared to only 40 percent who supported his ongoing leadership. These findings underscore the prevailing discontent and lack of consensus surrounding Kishida's tenure as prime minister.