PM Abe pledges to regain public trust

torted” but acknowledged the government needed to win back public trust.

“We must calmly explain each policy one by one so we can win the trust of Japanese citizens,” Abe told a news conference marking the end of parliament’s latest session on Sunday.

“I have renewed my determination to do so.”

‘Arrogance’

Opposition politicians and media have identified Abe’s friend as Kotaro Kake, the director of the Kake Educational Institution, which plans to open a veterinary department. The government has not approved new veterinary schools for decades because of concern about a glut of veterinarians.

Almost three-quarters of voters in the Mainichi survey were not convinced by the government’s insistence there was nothing wrong with the approval process.

The institution has said it had acted appropriately.

Experts said voters were irked at signs Abe was guilty of hubris after more than four years in office with no serious rivals, but for now they were betting he could ride out the storm.

“The public doesn’t like the arrogance, but they don’t like the alternatives even more than they don’t like Abe,” said Columbia University professor emeritus Gerry Curtis.

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party support far outstripped that of the opposition Democratic Party, the polls showed.