abstract

Many studies indicate that recent Japanese prime ministers exert a greater influence on the electoral fortunes of governing party than their predecessors before the electoral and administrative reforms. However, this observation is mainly based on the period during the Koizumi cabinet. As Koizumi was very popular in his first year and the last year of his tenure, the general observation that prime ministers have a larger influence on public opinion than in the past may be unwarranted. This paper compares the impact of cabinet approval on the support for governing party before and after the two reforms by analyzing the monthly poll results published by the Yomiuri Shimbun.