TOKYO -- The Japanese government's approval rating rose this month as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe fends off an economic data scandal with support for his foreign policy toward Russia and South Korea.
Approval for Abe's cabinet rose 6 percentage points from December to 53% while the disapproval rate fell 7 points to 37%, according to a Nikkei survey conducted from Friday through Sunday. Support reached 86% among backers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, but only 29% among independents. Approval for the LDP itself also rose 5 points to 43%.
