10. Public Opinion and Scandals in Economic Hard Times

This chapter delves into the factors influencing public opinion during the 2024 HR election in Japan, with a focus on the impact of economic hardships and political scandals. The analysis begins with the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō and the subsequent challenges faced by the Kishida administration, including the Unification Church scandal and the slush fund scandal. The text explores how these scandals, coupled with rising consumer prices, affected Kishida's approval ratings and voter behavior. It also examines the role of opinion polls in tracking public sentiment and the strategies employed by political candidates to regain public trust. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the 2024 HR election results, highlighting the significant loss of seats by the LDP-Kōmeitō coalition and the factors that contributed to this outcome. The text provides a detailed account of the political and economic issues that shaped the election, offering insights into the complexities of Japanese politics.