Questions & answers (%)
Figures in parentheses denote the results of the survey conducted on Mar. 11–14, 2016 (left) and the survey conducted on Feb. 11–14, 2016 (right).
Q: Some say that the increase in the consumption tax to 10% scheduled for April 2017 should be postponed. What is your view on the matter? Select only one response from the below.
|
The consumption tax should be increased as scheduled |
28.9 |
|
The increase in the consumption tax should be postponed |
64.8 |
|
None of the above & Don’t know |
6.2 |
Q: Do you hope that the government continues to promote Abenomics, Prime Minister Abe’s package of economic measures?
|
Yes |
37.5 |
|
No |
50.9 |
|
Don’t know |
11.5 |
Q: Do you support the Bank of Japan’s negative interest rate policy?
|
Yes |
17.4 |
|
No |
49.1 |
|
None of the above & Don’t know |
33.4 |
Q: How much of an impact do you think the Abe administration’s policies to address child daycare waiting lists, including improving working conditions for daycare workers, will have on resolving the issue? Select only one response from the below.
|
The policies will greatly improve the situation |
2.0 |
|
The policies will somewhat improve the situation |
36.6 |
|
The policies will not improve the situation very much |
45.0 |
|
The policies will not improve the situation at all |
11.0 |
|
Don’t know |
5.5 |
Q: How has your standard of living changed compared with this time last year?
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
It has improved greatly |
0.2 |
(0.1) |
(0.2) |
|
It has improved somewhat |
4.3 |
(4.1) |
(4.9) |
|
It has not changed |
70.5 |
(72.5) |
(70.7) |
|
It has worsened somewhat |
21.8 |
(19.2) |
(20.9) |
|
It has worsened greatly |
2.8 |
(4.1) |
(2.9) |
|
Don’t know |
0.4 |
(0.2) |
(0.4) |
Q: Do you think commodity prices have stabilized, will go up in the future, or will go down from now?
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
They have stabilized |
12.9 |
(14.8) |
(15.6) |
|
They will go up in the future |
74.5 |
(70.3) |
(66.5) |
|
They will go down from now |
4.4 |
(5.6) |
(6.4) |
|
Don’t know |
8.1 |
(9.3) |
(11.4) |
Q: How do you view the economy? Compared with last month, has it remained the same, improved, or worsened?
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
It has definitely improved |
0.1 |
(0.2) |
(–) |
|
It has improved somewhat |
5.0 |
(6.1) |
(5.8) |
|
It has remained the same |
61.1 |
(64.7) |
(61.4) |
|
It has worsened somewhat |
25.5 |
(20.7) |
(25.0) |
|
It has definitely worsened |
2.4 |
(3.7) |
(3.7) |
|
Don’t know |
5.9 |
(4.6) |
(4.1) |
Q: Do you think your lifestyle will improve or worsen in the future?
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
It will improve |
7.5 |
(8.0) |
(8.2) |
|
It will remain the same |
48.6 |
(50.6) |
(51.3) |
|
It will worsen |
36.9 |
(35.0) |
(33.9) |
|
Don’t know |
7.0 |
(6.5) |
(6.7) |
Q: Name up to three countries that you like.
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
United States of America |
47.8 |
(48.2) |
(45.5) |
|
Russia |
2.1 |
(2.2) |
(2.5) |
|
United Kingdom |
36.1 |
(40.7) |
(38.5) |
|
France |
31.8 |
(35.3) |
(34.9) |
|
Germany |
31.6 |
(34.0) |
(32.9) |
|
Switzerland |
38.3 |
(41.6) |
(40.1) |
|
India |
6.5 |
(6.6) |
(6.4) |
|
China |
1.7 |
(1.8) |
(1.4) |
|
South Korea |
4.7 |
(5.1) |
(5.4) |
|
North Korea |
0.2 |
(0.3) |
(0.2) |
|
None/Don’t know |
20.9 |
(16.1) |
(17.1) |
|
Simple total |
221.7 |
(232.0) |
(224.9) |
Q: Name up to three countries that you dislike.
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
United States of America |
3.3 |
(3.6) |
(4.1) |
|
Russia |
17.3 |
(20.3) |
(18.6) |
|
United Kingdom |
0.4 |
(0.3) |
(0.6) |
|
France |
0.6 |
(0.9) |
(1.1) |
|
Germany |
1.6 |
(0.5) |
(1.4) |
|
Switzerland |
0.8 |
(0.4) |
(0.6) |
|
India |
3.3 |
(3.0) |
(2.5) |
|
China |
69.5 |
(70.3) |
(68.5) |
|
South Korea |
37.9 |
(39.7) |
(38.6) |
|
North Korea |
84.1 |
(86.1) |
(85.9) |
|
None/Don’t know |
9.0 |
(8.0) |
(7.5) |
|
Simple total |
227.8 |
(233.0) |
(229.4) |
Q: Which country or region do you think will become important for Japan as a bilateral relationship over the next five years or so? Select up to three from the below.
|
|
Apr. |
(Mar.) |
(Feb.) |
|
United States of America |
73.2 |
(75.1) |
(72.3) |
|
Canada |
3.0 |
(3.0) |
(4.1) |
|
Russia |
11.0 |
(12.5) |
(13.0) |
|
Other FSU (former Soviet Union) |
1.0 |
(0.9) |
(0.8) |
|
Europe |
14.8 |
(14.5) |
(12.7) |
|
India |
16.1 |
(18.4) |
(16.7) |
|
China |
52.9 |
(51.9) |
(52.5) |
|
Taiwan |
10.3 |
(9.7) |
(9.1) |
|
South Korea |
17.9 |
(17.8) |
(18.4) |
|
North Korea |
7.9 |
(9.3) |
(8.6) |
|
Southeast Asia |
23.3 |
(23.1) |
(22.3) |
|
Latin America |
2.2 |
(2.1) |
(2.5) |
|
Middle East |
4.4 |
(5.5) |
(5.3) |
|
Africa |
3.6 |
(4.1) |
(3.7) |
|
Oceania |
1.7 |
(3.7) |
(2.1) |
|
Don’t know |
7.5 |
(6.5) |
(7.3) |
|
Simple total |
250.9 |
(258.2) |
(251.4) |
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted over the four-day period of Apr. 8–11 through individual interviews. For the survey, a total of 2,000 people were sampled from among men and women, aged 20 and over, across the nation on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. Valid responses were received from 1,268 people for a valid response rate of 63.4%.
