Tokyo: A new poll shows that Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan`s public approval rating has fallen to the lowest level since he took office last year.
The survey by Kyodo News agency released on Sunday found that 15.8 percent of respondents approve of the embattled leader`s Cabinet, down from about 17 percent a month earlier.
Demands are increasing for Kan to step down because of his handling of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and resulting nuclear crisis. He has said he will quit after two key bills are approved in Parliament, which is likely this month.
As for what they expect from a new government, almost two-thirds of the 1,016 respondents in the nationwide poll say most important goal is the recovery of disaster-ravaged northeastern Japan.
Bureau Report
