Kishida disapproval rate edges above 40% on church ties

According to a public opinion poll, disapproval of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet edged above 40% for the first time, propelled by doubts over whether his ruling party would ever be free of ties to the Unification Church.
Revelations of long-running links to the church founded in South Korea in the 1950s and famous for its mass weddings have become a problem for Kishida since July 8, when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot and his suspected killer said his mother was bankrupted by the church and blamed Abe for promoting it.
Kishida’s support has tumbled and ties to the church have also fanned opposition to a state funeral for Abe to be held on Sept 27.
Kishida apologised last week for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s ties to the church and said the LDP would make it “party policy” to end such ties and step up compliance.