The disapproval rate for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet jumped in two media polls conducted over the weekend, amid government struggles to address issues related to the pandemic, the Unification Church and controversy surrounding the state funeral plans for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

A Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted nationally from Friday to Sunday found that the Cabinet disapproval rating had topped 40% for the first time and now stood at 41%, up 7 percentage points from the previous poll in early August. Compared with the disapproval rate in July, which stood at 24%, the figure represents a rise of 17 percentage points.

However, the approval rating remained basically unchanged at 50%, down from 51% in early August.

Another poll conducted by the JNN television network over the two days through Sunday also recorded a rise in the Kishida Cabinet disapproval rating. Up 9 percentage points from the previous poll in August, the figure of 48.3% now outweighs the approval rating of 48.1%.

The support rate for the JNN poll was the lowest since Kishida became prime minister — a continuation of a ratings slide that began in mid-July as coronavirus cases skyrocketed and lawmakers’ ties to the Unification Church began to emerge.

The coercive practices of the Unification Church, known officially as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and ties to Japan’s lawmakers have become a major topic of public scrutiny following the shooting of Abe. The suspect reportedly said he had a grudge against the Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight due to his involvement with the group.

On Wednesday, Kishida said the LDP would sever all ties with the controversial religious organization as part of party policy. However, the Yomiuri poll showed that while 76% of respondents said they appreciated Kishida’s move, 72% felt that the party would be unable to completely cut those links.

The government’s plan to hold a state funeral for Abe, which is slated to cost ¥250 million ($1.78 million), with security for foreign dignitaries expected to be added on to the bill, is also facing growing criticism.

Opposition to the state funeral in the Yomiuri poll increased 10 percentage points to 56%, while support for plans to stage the event dropped 11 percentage points over the same period to 38%.

Opposition to the plans could rise further, however, after it was reported that events firm Murayama — which has been under fire in the past for its role in an Abe-linked scandal over spending on cherry-blossom viewing parties — had successfully bid to stage the Sept. 27 funeral.

Commenting on the decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference Monday morning that no preferential treatment had been given to the company when making the decision. Matsuno added that Murayama was the sole bidder for the event.

In more positive news for the government, 57% of respondents to the Yomiuri poll said that they supported its plans to simplify the way it reports coronavirus cases — an effort to reduce the burden on local hospitals and health centers.