TOKYO (AFX) - Support for the government led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dropped to 48 pct in January from 51 pct last month due to concerns over his leadership ability, an opinion poll conducted by Nikkei Inc showed.
The poll also found that its disapproval rating rose 1 percentage point to 41 pct.
The survey of 1,545 households with registered voters showed that around 41 pct of the respondents said the Abe cabinet had a more passive approach to reform compared with that of his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, an 11-point increase.
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yasuhiko.seki@xfn.com