Japanese Pm's Popularity Hit By Ministerial Gaffes

Any doubts that Shinzo Abe's honeymoon period as Japanese prime minister is over were dispelled today with the release of opinion polls showing a dramatic drop in his approval rating since he became leader last autumn.

According to a poll in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Mr Abe's support rate stands at just 36%, down 4% from last month and well below the 67% he received in his first few days in office.

The Mainichi Shimbun, meanwhile, said the number of voters who disapproved of his government had risen 5 points from last month to 41%.

Even women voters, who once warmed to Mr Abe because of his relative youth and reputation as an attentive husband, are deserting him. Only 36% now support him, while 37% disapprove, up eight points from last month.

His focus on reforming the constitution and promoting patriotic teaching in schools has failed to resonate with voters, who say they are more concerned about the pensions squeeze, rising healthcare costs and declining education standards.

Almost 40% of voters were angered by his refusal to take tougher action against his health minister, Hakuo Yanagisawa, who recently described women as "baby-making machines" in a speech about Japan's declining birthrate.

Mr Yanagisawa refused to resign and Mr Abe has resisted calls to sack him, a course of action preferred by almost 60% of voters.

His defence minister, Fumio Kyuma, has sparked an uncomfortable period in otherwise strong Japan-US ties with public criticism of George Bush's handling of the war in Iraq.

Mr Abe had already been put on the defensive after two top officials, including the man he appointed to overhaul the tax system, were found to have misused public funds.

Over the weekend another close ally, the education minister, Bunmei Ibuki, created more potential problems when he described Japan as "an extremely homogeneous country".

Similar comments by the former prime minister, Yasuhiro Nakasone, in 1986 sparked anger among Japan's indigenous Ainu people and other minorities.

Having won plaudits for arranging a fence-mending visit to Beijing soon after he became leader, Mr Abe has also been accused of isolating Japan over the international community's response to North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Although Japan signed up to Pyongyang's offer to abandon its nuclear plans in return for energy assistance, it is refusing to provide aid unless there is a resolution to the communist state's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 70s and 80s.

Five abductees have returned to Japan but Mr Abe insists he will not soften his stance until the North gives satisfactory explanations about the fates of at least eight others.

One senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic party recently accused Mr Abe of losing his grip on power.

Yoshiro Mori, who quickly became of one of Japan's most unpopular postwar leaders after taking office in 2000, described Mr Abe as "too generous and docile" in rewarding colleagues who supported him in the leadership race with cabinet posts.