Japan PM Takaichi marks one year in office as approval falls below 50% for the first time
A poll puts cabinet support at 49.1%, the lowest since Japan's first female prime minister took office, after a minister resigned over remarks about cutting road funds to towns that did not back him.
At a glance
- Sanae Takaichi marks one year as Japan's prime minister on October 21, 2026; she took office in October 2025 as the country's first female leader.
- A national poll conducted October 17–18 put her cabinet's approval at 49.1% — the first time it has fallen below 50% — with disapproval at about 33%.
- Farm Minister Kazuo Yana resigned after criticism of remarks about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him.
- 57.7% of respondents said Takaichi acted too late in replacing Yana, while 81.5% said his resignation was appropriate.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaches her first anniversary in office on Wednesday, October 21, with her popularity slipping for the first time. A poll conducted on October 17–18 put her cabinet's approval rating at 49.1% — the first time it has fallen below 50% since she became Japan's first female prime minister in October 2025.
The poll
| Result | |
|---|---|
| Cabinet approval | 49.1% (lowest since taking office) |
| Disapproval | About 33% |
| Replacement of Yana came "too late" | 57.7% |
| Yana's resignation was appropriate | 81.5% |
The Yana scandal
The fall follows the resignation of Farm Minister Kazuo Yana, whom Takaichi had appointed in a reshuffle only a month earlier. He was criticised for remarks about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him politically. Takaichi rebuked him in parliament, but many voters felt she acted too slowly — which pollsters say may explain the drop in support.
Takaichi's first year
Takaichi, a conservative from the Liberal Democratic Party, came to power promising a stronger economy and stronger defence. Over the past year she has:
- deepened ties with the United States and pushed for higher defence spending;
- faced tensions with China, which have cut the number of Chinese visitors to Japan;
- promised tax cuts and support for households hit by rising prices, though critics say delivery has been slow.
Even at 49.1%, her approval remains relatively high by the standards of recent Japanese prime ministers, several of whom saw support fall far lower within a year.
Who is Sanae Takaichi?
Takaichi, 65, is a veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker from Nara and a political protégé of the late prime minister Shinzo Abe. Before becoming prime minister she served as minister for internal affairs and as minister for economic security. She won the LDP leadership in October 2025 and was elected prime minister by parliament later that month, after the LDP's long-time partner Komeito left the coalition and the party struck a new governing deal with the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin).
Known for her hawkish views on defence and China and for admiring Margaret Thatcher, she has pursued a strongly pro-growth economic agenda, including public spending to support households and strategic industries.
Why it matters
Japan is one of Asia's largest economies and a key US ally. A weaker prime minister could find it harder to pass budgets, raise defence spending or manage relations with China. For trading partners — including Pakistan, which receives Japanese aid and investment — political stability in Tokyo matters for long-term projects.
What happens next
Takaichi will try to regain momentum with economic measures before the end of the year. Further ministerial missteps or a weak economy could push her ratings lower and increase pressure from within her own party.
Questions people are asking
When did Sanae Takaichi become Japan's prime minister?
In October 2025. She is Japan's first female prime minister and marks one year in office on October 21, 2026.
What is Takaichi's approval rating?
49.1% in a national poll conducted on October 17–18, 2026, the first time her cabinet's support has fallen below 50% since she took office.
Why did Japan's farm minister Kazuo Yana resign?
He was criticised for remarks about cutting road funding for municipalities that did not support him. Takaichi rebuked him in parliament before he resigned.
