Amid slumping polls, Takaichi boasts of policy victories in Diet | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Amid slumping polls, Takaichi boasts of policy victories in Diet
July 28, 2026 at 15:16 JST
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks about her accomplishments at a news conference on July 27, after the special Diet session closed. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Office on July 27, following the closing of the special Diet session. (Takeshi Iwashita)
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi touted her accomplishments in the recently ended special Diet session and predicted progress in her fight against rising prices, the likely cause of her sliding poll numbers
At a news conference on July 27 to review her administration’s performance, Takaichi mentioned the campaign promises she made during the February Lower House election, which her Liberal Democratic Party won in a landslide
“I worked tirelessly through the special Diet session with the belief that my mission is to steadily realize them,” she said
Takaichi emphasized her legislative success, saying: “We were able to pass all 64 government-sponsored bills. This is the fourth time this has happened in the postwar era.”
Despite these achievements, media polls show the Takaichi Cabinet’s approval rating is declining, mainly over the higher cost of living
She said her measures against high prices is the “highest priority issue since the inauguration of my administration.”
The prime minister also said the rising prices stem from external events beyond her control
“The situation in the Middle East became unstable following the U.S. attack on Iran, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz caused disruptions to the supply of goods to the world and our country,” she said
G-7-BEST NUMBERS HIGHLIGHTED
She said the public will soon feel the benefits of the government’s response
“We are implementing a wide range of measures to counter high prices,” Takaichi said. “By the end of the year, we will return 30,000 yen ($183) to 60,000 yen through an income tax reduction. There are also many more price-hike-countering measures that will reach you in the future.”
Takaichi, in fact, argued that these efforts are already bearing fruit
“(Japan’s) inflation rate is being kept at 1.7 percent, the lowest among the Group of Seven nations. The real wage growth rate is 1.8 percent, the highest level in the G-7,” she said. “We are beginning to see promising signs.”
She also noted that her Cabinet has held 11 meetings on the Middle East, resulting in “securing alternative procurement of crude oil and naphtha” and the “flexible release of national stockpiles,” allowing the government to resolve distribution bottlenecks “on a case-by-case basis.”
ON DECK: SPIES, TAXES
One key measure to help households deal with rising prices is Takaichi’s plan to slash the consumption tax rate for food items
She acknowledged that “cautious discussions are still ongoing” among eight parties, “partly because there are major differences of opinion.”
But Takaichi affirmed her goal “to promptly submit a bill so that the public can feel the effect of the burden reduction as soon as possible.”
Regarding her policy shift to strengthen intelligence gathering, the prime minister confirmed the establishment of a “National Intelligence Council” and a “National Intelligence Agency.”
She framed it as “only the first step of reform” and pledged to “advance our considerations on matters such as enhancing foreign intelligence capabilities and strengthening the prevention of undue interference by foreign countries, while also giving consideration to the balance with the freedoms and human rights of the people.”
“Although the Diet session has ended, we will not stop our progress toward fulfilling our promises,” Takaichi said. “Rather, we must accelerate that progress.”
ON ALLIES AND ADVERSARIES
In the subsequent question-and-answer session, Takaichi was asked about the LDP’s coalition partner, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party)
She described their bond as firm, noting Ishin “made the momentous decision last October to form a coalition with the LDP, which was in a difficult situation after its coalition with Komeito dissolved. Our relationship of trust is unshakeable.”
However, she declined to speculate on other potential partnerships or a future Cabinet reshuffle, stating, “I would like to refrain from commenting.”
Addressing deteriorating Japan-China relations, Takaichi said: “China is an important neighbor. I believe it is important to have dialogue and communicate at all levels.”
When pressed on a potential summit with President Xi Jinping at the APEC conference in November, she responded simply, “I am looking forward to the APEC leaders’ meeting.”
When asked about her falling poll numbers, Takaichi stated she would not “get carried away by the ups and downs” but would “listen to various voices and humbly work for the nation and its people.”
Finally, when asked for any reflections or lessons learned from the special Diet session, she gave a blunt reply: “I have no particular regrets.”
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