20250227 Ishiba and bonknote

In office since last October, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba saw his cabinet's approval ratings hit a low in February as poll respondents cited the rising cost of living as their most pressing concern. (Photos by Reuters and Arisa Moriyama)

Japan PM Ishiba set for budget deal, but inflation clouds election hopes

LDP approval ratings down; voters fret on price hikes as summer upper house vote looms

TOKYO -- By this year's cherry blossom season, Japan's minority government hopes to have pulled off a delicate budget balancing act. Whether it wins plaudits from voters frustrated by the rising cost of living remains to be seen -- and they get their chance to pass a verdict in a key election this summer.

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