Which age group is supporting Ishiba?

In a nationwide telephone survey conducted by the Asahi Shimbun on August 16 and 17, the approval rating for Shigeru Ishiba’s cabinet rose to 36%, an increase from the 29% recorded immediately after the major defeat in the July House of Councillors election. While the disapproval rating remains high at 50%, down from 56% in July, the increase in approval raises questions about what prompted this change.

Analysis by age and gender indicates that the rise in support was largely driven by women aged 50 and above. The Ishiba Cabinet traditionally sees a “low youth, high elder” support pattern, with lower ratings among younger generations and higher ratings among older ones. The latest survey showed that support from women in their 50s and older reached around 50%, marking a noticeable increase from the previous month.