Experiencing ups and downs but being kept afloat by generally strong public approval ratings, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Monday marked the third anniversary of the inauguration of his administration.
Despite initially lacking solid political clout within his own Liberal Democratic Party, Koizumi has become the sixth-longest-serving prime minister in postwar Japan, following Yasuhiro Nakasone, who led the government between 1982 and 1987.
One of the driving forces that has kept the Koizumi Cabinet afloat is the popular approval ratings in media polls. While the numbers are down sharply from the 80 percent to 90 percent seen in the initial phase of his administration, they still stand around 50 percent -- a surprisingly high level for a Japanese prime minister after three years in office.