An NHK opinion poll shows that the approval rating for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's Cabinet rose 3 points from last month to 36 percent, while the disapproval rating fell by 2 points to 43 percent.
NHK conducted the telephone survey from Friday through Sunday. More than 1,200 people responded.
Asked about the release of treated and diluted water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea, 66 percent said the move was appropriate, 17 percent replied it was not appropriate, and another 17 percent said they do not know or did not answer.
China strongly opposes the water release and has suspended imports of Japanese seafood products.
Asked whether they are worried that relations between Japan and China will worsen, 15 percent said they are very concerned, and 44 percent said they are somewhat concerned. But 24 percent said they are not so worried, and 12 percent said they are not worried at all.