The majority of Japanese people expressed distrust toward Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s remark on the leakage at the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima nuclear plant, a survey showed.

Abe tried to calm public jitters about the problem plaguing the nuclear plant, saying, “The situation is under control,” but his effort seems to garner little, if any, positive response among the Japanese public.

According to a telephone poll conducted on Saturday and Sunday by Kyodo News, 64.4 percent of respondents did not believe Abe’s assurance on safety and health directed to the International Olympic Committee on Sept. 7.

Nonetheless, Japan’s successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics boosted the approval ratings of Abe’s cabinet, up 4.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent.

Public support for Abe’s cabinet has climbed to over 60 percent since June.

By Yoon Ha-youn, Intern reporter
(yhayoun@heraldcorp.com)