Yasuo Fukuda, like his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, had seen his popularity ratings slump, as his party rivals sharpened their knives and his policies fizzled.

• 福田的对手党派摩拳擦掌，而其本党的政策实施又是一败涂地，这使得福田步其前任安倍之后尘，民众支持率骤降。