TOKYO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet increased by 7.9 points to 40 percent, according to a Kyodo News poll conducted over the weekend.

While this marks an improvement, the figure remains well below the over 50 percent approval seen shortly after he took office on Oct. 1.

The poll, conducted via telephone, showed 69.9 percent supported revising the income threshold for taxation, while 32.4 percent said Japan-U.S. relations will deteriorate after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Following the Oct. 27 general election, in which Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered significant losses, the prime minister now leads a minority government.

Survey results also showed 67.9 percent approved of cooperation between the ruling coalition and opposition parties to pass bills smoothly, while 26.4 percent said the ruling bloc should allow opposition parties to join the coalition to form a majority.