Japan PM Gains Little After Disbanding Tarnished Faction

Three of party’s five major factions disbanded amid scandal
Slush fund charges sent LDP support to record low in one poll

About 61% of respondents to the Asahi poll said they approved of Kishida’s abolition of his own faction. — About 61% of respondents to the Asahi poll said they approved of Kishida’s abolition of his own faction.
Photographer: Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Zuma Press

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By Isabel Reynolds and Takashi Hirokawa

January 22, 2024 at 12:57 AM UTC

Updated on

January 22, 2024 at 3:51 AM UTC

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Support for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida showed scant signs of recovery in a series of polls carried out over the weekend after he dissolved his scandal-hit faction in a bid to restore trust.

A survey by the Yomiuri newspaper carried out Saturday and Sunday found support had fallen by one percentage point to 24%, while another by broadcaster ANN showed a slip to 20.4%. The Asahi newspaper found support unchanged, while by contrast the Sankei found it had risen by five percentage points compared with the previous month.