The latest NHK opinion poll shows the approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's Cabinet is 44 percent. This is 5 points up from January. The disapproval rate is 35 percent, which is down 5 points.

NHK conducted the telephone survey over three days from February 7. The number of respondents was 1,212 out of the 2,800 people who were contacted.

Ishiba is considering revising the budget bill for the new fiscal year by adopting views from the opposition parties. The ruling parties are a minority in the Lower House.

Asked about the Prime Minister's plan, 11 percent of respondents answered they highly appreciate it and 55 percent said they appreciate it to some extent. 19 percent said they did not appreciate it very much, and 8 percent said they do not appreciate it at all.

The survey also questioned the impact of possible US tariff hikes on Japan's economy as President Donald Trump pursues higher tariffs to reduce huge US trade deficit.

Six percent of respondents answered that it will have a positive impact, while 57 percent said it will have a negative impact. 22 percent answered "no particular impact."

Asked about the outlook for Japan-US relations, 13 percent said it will improve, 11 percent said it will get worse, and 65 percent said it will not change. The first Japan-US summit meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and President Trump took place during the survey period.