Thousands in Tokyo are now protesting against Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, calling on him to step down in light of a suspected cronyism-scandal cover-up.

The latest survey shows the prime minister's support has fallen 9.4 points to just under 40 percent. Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso have been under fire this week since the finance ministry admitted altering records. The files relate to a discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to Abe's wife, Akie. The prime minister has denied wrongdoing, and says he won't quit. But the scandal could dash Abe's hopes of winning a third term as head of his Liberal Democratic Party in a September party leadership election.