Japan Parties See Record-Low Backing at Quake Anniversary

One year after Japan’s most powerful earthquake ever, the nation’s top two political parties have record-low approval ratings, signaling widespread discontent at the government’s response to the disaster.

Public support is below 20 percent for both the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party for the first time since the DPJ was formed in 1998, poll data from broadcaster NHK show. The figures slid after the two focused on leadership and election-timing battles instead of cooperating to speed post-quake recovery and ensure food-safety standards.