Takaichi Kicks Off LDP Presidency with Polls Showing Strong Support
Early Surveys Signal High Public Hopes for New Leader Amid Coalition Challenges and Economic Pressures
By Japan News Desk | October 6, 2025
Favorable Start for LDP's New Face
TOKYO — Sanae Takaichi's ascension to Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president has been met with robust public optimism, as initial polls reveal overwhelming support for her leadership just days into her tenure. A Kyodo News survey released Monday afternoon indicated that 68.4 percent of respondents hold "high hopes" for Takaichi, with only 25.5 percent expressing skepticism, setting a promising tone for the conservative lawmaker as she navigates the party's path forward in a fragmented parliament.
The JNN poll, conducted over the weekend, echoed this enthusiasm, showing 66 percent of participants with "high hopes," a figure that climbs to 75 percent among LDP supporters. This surge coincides with a 4.6 percentage point rise in overall LDP approval to 27.9 percent, suggesting Takaichi's election has injected fresh momentum into the ruling party following a string of electoral setbacks tied to a persistent slush fund scandal.
Takaichi, a hawkish veteran known for her staunch defense of traditional values, assumed the LDP helm amid calls for renewal. Her victory in the party leadership race positions her as the frontrunner for prime minister in the upcoming mid-October Lower House vote, where the LDP-Komeito coalition, lacking a majority, will need opposition backing to secure the top job. Poll respondents overwhelmingly favored her for the role, with 65 percent naming Takaichi as the best candidate, far ahead of Constitutional Democratic Party leader Yoshihiko Noda at 11 percent and Democratic Party for the People chief Yuichiro Tamaki at 7 percent.
Optimism stems from perceptions of her policy reliability, with 25 percent citing confidence in her agenda, 23 percent viewing her as the only viable option in a thin field, and another 23 percent seeing her as a harbinger of positive change. Yet, challenges loom: 26 percent of those disapproving pointed to blanket opposition to any LDP leader, 20 percent questioned her character, and 18 percent doubted her platform's alignment with national needs.
As Takaichi embarks on her presidency, these surveys underscore a public appetite for decisive action on inflation curbs, economic revitalization, and policies affecting foreign nationals, while only 40 percent believe she can fully restore trust eroded by recent scandals. Her early polling honeymoon offers a window to build bridges with potential coalition partners like the Democratic Party for the People, favored by 24 percent of respondents for collaboration.
Polling Surge Signals LDP Revival Potential
Takaichi's strong debut in the polls—68.4 percent high hopes in Kyodo and 66 percent in JNN—transcends personal appeal, reflecting a broader craving for stability after the LDP's turmoil, where her conservative credentials promise a steady hand on economic levers amid inflation woes, yet hinge on forging opposition alliances in a divided Diet to transform approval into governing power.
The 27.9 percent LDP support bump highlights her unifying force among base voters, where 75 percent express optimism, but the 48 percent doubting her trust-restoration ability warns of lingering scandal shadows, demanding swift policy wins on revitalization and foreign worker integration to sustain momentum before mid-October's PM vote.
In this pivotal moment, Takaichi's honeymoon ratings chart a course from electoral defeats to potential resurgence, contingent on navigating coalition math—24 percent eyeing DPP ties—while addressing character critiques that could erode her 65 percent PM lead if unheeded.
Breaking Down Poll Favorability Drivers
In the JNN survey, 25 percent of hopeful respondents praised Takaichi's dependable policies, 23 percent saw her as the indispensable choice amid leadership voids, and another 23 percent hailed her as a fresh chapter for the scandal-weary LDP, underscoring her appeal as a reliable reformer.
Disapproval Factors and Trust Hurdles
Among the 26 percent without high hopes, disapproval splits into 26 percent rejecting any LDP figure outright, 20 percent wary of her persona, and 18 percent skeptical of her agenda's fit for Japan's pressing issues, with 48 percent overall doubting her scandal-recovery prowess.
Coalition and PM Candidacy Insights
Voters tipped DPP as the top coalition partner at 24 percent, followed by Nippon Ishin no Kai at 15 percent and CDP at 13 percent, while 23 percent favored ad-hoc ties; Takaichi's 65 percent PM edge over Noda's 11 percent and Tamaki's 7 percent signals strong positioning for the Lower House showdown.
Key Perspectives on Takaichi's Launch
"The Kyodo News survey released Monday afternoon showed that 68.4% of respondents said they have 'high hopes' for Takaichi, while 25.5% said they do not, reflecting an encouraging start for the new LDP president as she seeks to rally public confidence in the party's direction following recent challenges."
"According to the JNN poll conducted over the weekend, 66% of respondents said they have 'high hopes' for Takaichi, rising to 75% among LDP supporters, with public support for the LDP climbing to 27.9%, up 4.6 percentage points from the previous month, indicating a potential turnaround in voter sentiment."
"Among those with high expectations, 25% said they can 'count on her policies,' 23% said 'nobody else is up to task,' and 23% said Takaichi 'marks a new beginning,' highlighting her perceived strengths as a leader capable of steering the party through turbulent times."
"Forty percent of respondents expressed confidence that Takaichi could restore public trust in the LDP, amid three major electoral defeats over the past year due to a party slush fund scandal, while 48% did not, underscoring the uphill battle she faces in rebuilding the party's credibility."
LDP's Recent Turbulence and Path Ahead
Takaichi's presidency emerges from the LDP's nadir, scarred by a slush fund scandal that triggered three electoral losses in the past year, eroding trust and forcing the party into minority status in parliament, where coalition math now dictates survival and her PM bid hinges on opposition pacts like the favored DPP alliance.
Her hawkish profile and policy focus—prioritizing inflation controls, economic boosts, and foreign national issues—position her as a bridge-builder, yet the polls' 40 percent trust restoration confidence reveals skepticism rooted in the scandal's shadow, demanding early wins to convert 68.4 percent hopes into lasting loyalty.
Outlook for Mid-October PM Vote
As the Lower House gears for mid-October's PM election, Takaichi's 65 percent candidacy lead offers leverage, but 23 percent's call for case-by-case cooperation warns of fragile alliances, with her tenure's success tied to addressing the 26 percent's anti-LDP ire through tangible reforms.
Takaichi's launch, buoyed by these surveys, charts a hopeful arc for the LDP, blending voter optimism with pragmatic hurdles, her leadership a litmus test for revival in a nation yearning for steady governance amid economic headwinds.
Categories, Keywords, and Sources
Categories: Japan Politics, LDP Leadership, Public Opinion Polls, Prime Minister Race, Coalition Dynamics
Keywords: Sanae Takaichi poll support, LDP presidency approval, Kyodo JNN surveys, Japan PM election 2025, economic policy priorities
Source: The Japan Times | For more on Banzai Japan news, visit our homepage.
