Abe's Popularity Drops after Japan Defense Laws Passed: Polls

Parliament in the officially pacifist nation passed the contentious security bills early Saturday, a move that could see Japanese troops engage in combat overseas for the first time since the end of World War II.

A weekend poll taken by the top-selling, centre-right newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun showed that public support for the Abe government dropped four points to 41 percent compared with a similar survey taken in mid-August, AFP reported.

Its disapproval rating rose six points to 51 percent, the Yomiuri said.

A separate poll taken by the liberal Asahi Shimbun showed the government's approval rating down one point to 35 percent compared with a survey taken a week ago, while the disapproval rating rose three points to 45 percent.

And the Nikkei business daily's poll showed the approval rating fall six points to 40 percent, while disapproval rose seven points to 47 percent.

A majority of those polled voiced disapproval of what they said was the way the government bulldozed the legislation through Diet and complained that Abe had not offered persuasive and detailed arguments to justify the move.

The legislation had sparked angry street protests with tens of thousands taking part, and fueled anger among Japan's neighbors.

However, the Yomiuri reported Abe's supporters were relieved to see only a moderate drop in public support.

"A sense of relief spread among government officials and ruling party members as public support fell only by small margins," the Yomiuri said.

The opposition failed to gain momentum because they were not able to offer viable alternatives to the bills, the Yomiuri said, echoing the assessments of survey results by rival media.

Proponents of the legislation have said the measures are necessary to beef up defense against China and North Korea.