Partisanship and attribution of responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

This study investigates how Japanese voters attribute responsibility for the collapse of the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on which political actors are held accountable and how partisanship influences these perceptions. Based on an online survey conducted in four prefectures in August 2021, the findings show that voters predominantly blame national-level politicians—especially the prime minister, the cabinet, and ruling and opposition party members—rather than local officials or healthcare workers. The study also reveals that negative partisanship, defined as rejection of political parties, is more strongly associated with attributing responsibility than positive partisanship (party support), indicating that blame is often linked to negative attitudes toward parties. These results highlight the role of partisan attitudes in shaping accountability perceptions in Japan's democratic context during a public health crisis.