An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rate for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's Cabinet stands at 25 percent, down 1 percentage point from January. The disapproval rate is 58 percent, an increase of 2 points.

NHK conducted the telephone survey over three days from Saturday. More than 1,200 people responded.

Among those who support the Cabinet, 51 percent said it seems better than possible alternatives, 23 percent said it is made up of political parties they support, and 11 percent expressed trust in Kishida.

Of those who disapprove, 45 percent said they have low expectations for the Cabinet's policies, 27 percent said the Cabinet lacks the ability to implement its policies, and 11 percent said they do not trust Kishida.

Dozens of lawmakers of Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party have been found to have failed to report income from fundraising parties held by their factions in their political funds reports.

Asked if such members have fulfilled their accountability on the matter, 2 percent said the lawmakers fulfilled it, while 88 percent said they have yet to do so.

The main ruling party compiled an interim report for reforms. It says transparency on political funds must be raised, and that factions must never exert influence on money matters or filling Cabinet and other posts.

Regarding this move, 4 percent said they highly approve the reforms, and 32 percent approve them to some extent, while 29 percent do not support them so much, and 28 percent do not support them at all.

There are discussions on introducing a guilt-by-association system in which not only treasurers, but also lawmakers, are held responsible for accounting violations of the political funds control law.

Of the respondents, 82 percent called for the system's introduction, while 9 percent said it is unnecessary.

Asked about Kishida's response to the political fund scandal, 1 percent said they highly evaluate it, and 22 percent do so to some extent, while 36 percent do not appreciate it so much, and 33 percent do not appreciate it at all.

Education minister Moriyama Masahito said he attended a meeting of an organization related to the religious group formerly called the Unification Church, but he has not confirmed that his office requested the group to support him in the past elections.

About his explanation, 5 percent said Moriyama fulfilled his accountability, while 84 percent said he has not yet done so.