Takaichi's Approval Rating Plummets as 85% of Japanese Public Favors Female Emperor

[Anchor]

Following the passage of a law that allows even distant male relatives to become emperor while excluding women, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's approval ratings are plunging. Even with 85% of the public in favor of allowing a female emperor, Prime Minister Takaichi has made it clear that she has no intention of changing the succession rules.

Correspondent Mun Junmo reports from Tokyo.

[Reporter]

The decline in Prime Minister Takaichi's approval ratings became a hot topic in parliament today (July 27).

[Shiina Takeshi, Secretary-General of the Centrist Reform Alliance]: "Why do you think your approval rating has fallen, given that you have worked so hard that getting zero to three hours of sleep a day has become routine?"

[Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan]: "I am taking the public's sentiments to heart. I do not know the cause of the decline."

According to a survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's largest daily newspaper, the approval rating for the Takaichi cabinet dropped 12 percentage points from a month ago to 57%.

The downward trend, which saw a 10 percentage point plunge a week ago, shows no signs of stopping.

Regarding the cause of the decline, the Yomiuri pointed out that "it is because the divisive Imperial House Law amendment was pushed through forcibly."

The Japanese parliament agreed to allow male members of former imperial families to be adopted into the imperial family to replenish its dwindling numbers, which are down to just 16 people.

While bipartisan agreement had not been reached regarding the scope of imperial succession rights, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party suddenly revised the law to allow sons born to adopted sons to become emperor, forcing it through on the 17th and sparking massive backlash.

In response to an amendment that directly contradicts public opinion calling for "allowing both daughters and women to become emperor," public support for a "female emperor" surged to 85% in just a month.

This is believed to reflect the high popularity of Princess Aiko, the only daughter of Emperor Naruhito.

Majoring in Japanese language and literature in university and working at the Japanese Red Cross Society, Princess Aiko enjoys high popularity for her down-to-earth demeanor.

Furthermore, suspicions have been raised that former Prime Minister Taro Aso, whose younger sister is a member of the imperial family, pulled strings behind the scenes to produce an emperor from his own family, accelerating the defection of her support base.

However, Prime Minister Takaichi drew a line against opposition proposals to reexamine imperial succession methods, including a female emperor, stating, "I have no such intention at this time."

(Camera footage: Han Chul-min, Moon Hyun-jin | Video editing: Kim Byung-jik | Design: Park Tae-young)

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