An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rate for Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's Cabinet has fallen by one percentage point to 35 percent. The disapproval rate is unchanged at 45 percent.



NHK conducted the telephone survey over the weekend, calling randomly chosen people aged 18 or older.
They got 1,120 responses.



Among those who support the Cabinet, 38 percent said it seems better than possible alternatives, 25 percent expressed trust in Ishiba, and 22 percent said it is made up of political parties they support.



Of those who disapprove, 41 percent said they have low expectations for the Cabinet's policies, 24 percent said the Cabinet lacks the ability to implement policies, and 12 percent said they do not trust him.



Asked about the possible impact of US tariff measures on the Japanese economy, 43 percent said they are very much worried, and 36 percent said they are somewhat worried.



Ten percent said they are not worried much, and 5 percent said they have no worries.



Ishiba hopes to persuade US President Donald Trump to exempt Japan from the tariff measures by telling him that Japan is the biggest investor in the US.



Nine percent said they have high expectations for the government's negotiations with Washington, 33 percent said they have some hopes.



But 37 percent said they do not expect much and 16 percent said they have no expectations.



The government has announced that it will continue releasing its rice reserves every month until this summer to help lower surging rice prices.



Asked whether the measure will make the country's staple food less expensive, 16 percent said they think so, but 73 percent said they do not think so.



As for the impact of the rising cost of living on household finances, 43 percent said it is posing a significant impact, 41 percent said it has a certain level of impact.



Nine percent said it's not affecting their finances much, and 2 percent said they do not feel any impact.