InsideJapan News Network

The majority of voters in Japan still want new prime minister Naoto Kan to remain in his position, a new poll has shown, despite his party losing overall control of the upper house in a key vote.

According to a survey from Japanese newspaper Yomiuri cited by AFP, more than 60 per cent believe former finance minister Kan should keep his job. Another survey carried out by newspaper Asahi Shimbun revealed that 73 per cent of respondents thought Kan should remain party leader and prime minister.

However, the prime minister's cabinet remains unpopular with the people, with Yomiuri figures showing that he currently has an approval rating of less than 40 per cent. His disapproval rating is now around 52.

Kan came to power a few weeks ago when former leader Yukio Hatoyama stepped down following a scandal involving high ranking members of his party and a huge drop in public support following his decision to go back on a key election pledge promising to move a controversial US military base on Okinawa.

Written by Mark Smith.


Related news stories:
Japanese PM responds to opinion polls (28th August 2009)
Japanese schoolboy seeks damages after 'popularity poll' (12th May 2008)
Japan supports Kan as PM (7th September 2010)
New Japanese PM suffers poll shock (13th July 2010)