Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet Support Rate Dips To 55.8 Pct, Lowest Since Launch

TOKYO, June 21 (NNN-Kyodo) -- The approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet slipped to 55.8 per cent, the lowest point since she took office last October, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday, amid uncertainty lingering in the resource-poor country over the economic fallout from the West Asia conflict.

In the weekend telephone survey, 54.7 per cent of respondents felt no need to send the Japanese Self-Defence Forces to the key waterway to secure the safe passage of commercial vessels, while 36.6 per cent thought otherwise.

The survey took place after the United States and Iran reached a preliminary peace deal that included Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Kyodo News reported.

With households continuing to struggle with elevated prices, the poll also showed that the largest share of responses, at 43.9 per cent, said lowering the consumption tax rate on food and beverages from the current 8.0 per cent to 1.0 per cent is acceptable if the idea allows for faster introduction, while 22.6 per cent called for cutting it to zero, as pledged by the ruling parties.

--NNN-KYODO