Japan’s Abe Sees Support Tumble as School Scandal Begins to Bite

Cabinet’s approval rating sinks 9 percentage points in survey
One ruling LDP lawmaker calls for Abe to resign over scandal

A demonstrator holds up a placard during a protest against Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo on March 13. — A demonstrator holds up a placard during a protest against Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso in Tokyo on March 13.
Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg

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By Emi Nobuhiro and Andy Sharp

March 16, 2018 at 6:27 AM UTC

Updated on

March 16, 2018 at 7:48 AM UTC

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s support tumbled in one nationwide survey, in a sign that new revelations in a long-simmering scandal could threaten his leadership.

The support rate for Abe’s cabinet fell to 39.3 percent -- down 9.4 percentage points from a similar poll last month -- according to the survey by Jiji Press. Disapproval exceeded approval for the first time in five months.