Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks about his reshuffled cabinet members at minister's office in Tokyo on Sept.13, 2023. [Photo/VCG]

Recently, a poll by Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun revealed that approval for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet has dropped to 25%, marking the lowest point since he assumed office. In the Japanese political arena, when a cabinet's approval rating falls below 30%, it is considered to have entered a "danger zone." If it drops below 20%, it is regarded as edging close to the brink of resignation. Despite the official debut of the new cabinet on Sept. 13, the personnel reshuffle has not helped Kishida overcome his plummeting approval rating.

Since Kishida came to power, Japan's political shift towards the right has accelerated. It has transitioned from aspiring to be a "normal country" to a "militarily capable nation," emphasizing reliance on the United States and weakening strategic autonomy. His government prioritized military buildup over social welfare, leading Japan further down the path of "strengthening the military, revising the constitution, and expanding alliances." In May of this year, Kishida appeared on the cover of Time with the caption, "Japan's Choice: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wants to abandon decades of pacifism and make his country a true military power." When a country's cabinet no longer upholds the path of pacifism and excessively focuses on foreign affairs and security at the expense of domestic welfare and social development, it is destined to approach the precipice of resignation.

Ongoing scandals cast doubt on cabinet leadership 

Kishida's cabinet has been plagued by a series of scandals since last year involving issues such as the improper use of political funds and violations of campaign activities. Prime Minister Kishida himself has also become embroiled in controversy surrounding nearly a hundred "blank invoices" in his campaign financial reports. The exposure of scandals related to Seiji Kihara, a trusted aide of Kishida serving as deputy chief cabinet secretary, including allegations of maintaining multiple partners, has caused significant political turbulence.

The recent Cabinet reshuffle has left the Japanese public with the most striking impression that the prime minister prioritizes the demands of different factions within his party rather than voters' concerns. Furthermore, the governance ability of the Kishida administration has come under scrutiny, with frequent issues arising regarding the individual identification card system. The Japanese government implemented this system to promote the digitalization of government services. The personal identification card is intended for identity verification and can be linked to public fund accounts and health insurance certificates. However, during the implementation process, significant problems such as binding errors persistently occurred, raising concerns among the public regarding privacy breaches and other related issues.

Economic growth disappoints as controversial discharge of nuclear-contaminated water persists

Kishida's government has failed to achieve synergy between economic growth and distribution. Due to the sharp increase in food and energy prices, the lives of the Japanese people have become increasingly difficult. In 2022, Japan's real GDP growth rate was 1%, maintaining positive growth but falling below public expectations. According to government data, the core Consumer Price Index (CPI), excluding fresh food, rose by 3.1% year on year in July, marking the 11th consecutive month exceeding 3%. Adjusting for inflation, real wages in Japan decreased by 1.6% year on year in June, marking the 15th consecutive month of decline. Inflation and the decrease in real wages have severely impacted people's livelihoods.

To make matters worse, on Aug. 24, the Japanese government disregarded domestic and international opposition as it discharged contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean. Masanobu Sakamoto, the head of the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations, expressed opposition to the discharge of polluted water and called for the government to fulfill its promises and take full responsibility. However, the Kishida administration ignored public demands, ultimately resulting in significant impacts on Japan's tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and daily life due to the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water.

Ongoing defense spending hikes spark public panic

In the field of security, Kishida's cabinet has leveraged the Ukraine crisis to promote domestic strategic transformations. By the end of 2022, Japan revised three documents on its security and defense policies and explicitly included provisions for building "counterstrike capabilities" and other measures. The cabinet also plans to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP within five years. However, this move has sparked strong opposition among the Japanese public. Furthermore, due to the ongoing militarization of the southwestern islands by Kishida's government, residents are concerned that their homes will once again become battlegrounds.

On Sept. 18, Governor Denny Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture attended a session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, where he addressed issues related to U.S. military bases in Japan. It is rare for local governments to accuse the central government at the Human Rights Council, highlighting the glaring tensions between the central and local governments in Japan.

The fundamental reason for the continuous decline in support for Kishida lies in his mistakes in domestic affairs, livelihoods, and security. Therefore, Kishida and his cabinet need to prioritize the needs and opinions of the Japanese people and formulate policies that align with the fundamental interests of the people and the long-term development of society. At the same time, Kishida's cabinet needs to enhance pragmatic thinking and proper handling of foreign policy. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. Kishida's government needs to adhere to the principles established in the four political documents between China and Japan and consolidate the healthy development of bilateral relations. To reverse declining support for the cabinet, Japan must stop prioritizing military buildup over people's livelihoods. Drawing lessons from history and looking towards the future, the country should pursue a path of peaceful development rather than military expansion to uphold Asia's hard-earned peace and stability.

Sun Jiashen, assistant researcher at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. 

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. 

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