TOKYO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 42 percent of Japanese feel their lives worse off during the five-year reign of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a media survey showed on Thursday.

    Only 18 percent say their lives are better off, according to the nationwide telephone survey, which was conducted by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper during the weekend.

    Younger voters tend to be more satisfied than older ones, with about 30 percent of voters in their 20s and 30s said their lives were better. The corresponding number in the 50s bracket was a mere 10 percent.

    Koizumi's administrative reforms gained recognition from 52 percent of respondents, who gave 6 grades or above on a scale from 0 to 10. However, only 27 percent graded his diplomatic policies at or above 6.

    Of the 1,947 respondents, 45 percent said Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe is best suited to succeed Koizumi. Yasuo Fukuda, former chief cabinet secretary received support from 20 percent, while Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki were at 4 percent and 3 percent respectively.

    Koizumi, who is expected to step down as prime minister in September, has been on the post for five years since April 2001. Enditem