(LinkAsia: September 14, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Japan is likely to face a general election toward the end of the year. The unpopular Noda government can't afford to be seen as weak. Its tough stance on the island dispute may be helping it in the polls. Here's more from Japan's public broadcaster, NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 10, 2012

Reporter:
The approval rating for Noda's cabinet is 31 percent. That's three percentage points higher than August. It's the first time in five months that that approval rating has gone above 30 percent. The disapproval rating is 53 percent, three percentage points lower than last month. Our poll also asked voters about a local group that's expected to become Japan's newest political party. Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto will lead Nippon Ishin-no-kai. He wants to challenge the established parties- the DPJ and LDP in the next general election. The poll suggests 54 percent of voters have some or high expectations for Hashimoto's party. And, of those with expectations, 40 percent say it's because Nippon Ishin-no-kai seems better than other parties.