Questions & answers (%)
Figures in parentheses denote the results of the survey conducted on Sept. 8–11 (middle column) and the survey conducted on Aug. 3–6 (right column).
Q: Paragraph 1 of Article 9 of the Constitution currently states that Japan “renounces war” and paragraph 2 states that Japan will “never maintain war potential.” Do you support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s proposal to add a provision to Article 9 that would provide grounds for the existence of the Self-Defense Forces, while leaving paragraphs 1 and 2 unchanged?
|
Yes |
48.2 |
|
No |
34.4 |
|
Can’t say either way + Don’t know |
17.4 |
Q: Prime Minister Abe is considering allocating the additional tax revenues generated by raising the consumption tax rate to 10% (scheduled for October 2019) to making early childhood education free of charge. In a three-party agreement reached with the LDP and Komeito when the former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was in power, it was decided that about 20% of the additional tax revenue generated when the consumption tax was raised from 5% to 10% would be allocated to enhancing social security and the remaining 80% would be dedicated to financial reconstruction, including paying off the national debt. Do you support Prime Minister Abe’s plan to revise the usage of the additional tax revenue resulting from the consumption tax hike?
|
Yes |
45.0 |
|
No |
40.3 |
|
Can’t say either way + Don’t know |
14.7 |
Q: How has your standard of living changed compared with this time last year?
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
It has improved greatly |
0.6 |
(0.3) |
(0.5) |
|
It has improved somewhat |
4.3 |
(4.7) |
(3.9) |
|
It has not changed |
76.2 |
(72.8) |
(77.0) |
|
It has worsened somewhat |
16.3 |
(19.4) |
(15.8) |
|
It has worsened greatly |
1.9 |
(2.0) |
(2.4) |
|
Don’t know |
0.7 |
(0.8) |
(0.5) |
Q: Do you think commodity prices have stabilized, will go up in the future, or will go down from now?
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
They have stabilized |
17.8 |
(16.5) |
(18.8) |
|
They will go up in the future |
67.1 |
(69.5) |
(66.1) |
|
They will go down from now |
3.5 |
(4.2) |
(3.9) |
|
Don’t know |
11.5 |
(9.8) |
(11.2) |
Q: How do you view the economy? Compared with last month, has it improved, remained the same, or worsened?
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
It has definitely improved |
0.5 |
(0.2) |
(0.3) |
|
It has improved somewhat |
8.4 |
(6.7) |
(6.9) |
|
It has remained the same |
68.6 |
(65.8) |
(70.8) |
|
It has worsened somewhat |
15.4 |
(19.7) |
(16.4) |
|
It has definitely worsened |
1.6 |
(2.4) |
(1.6) |
|
Don’t know |
5.5 |
(5.3) |
(3.9) |
Q: Do you think your lifestyle will improve or worsen in the future?
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
It will improve |
9.1 |
(8.9) |
(8.2) |
|
It will remain the same |
52.7 |
(52.0) |
(54.1) |
|
It will worsen |
30.7 |
(32.9) |
(29.8) |
|
Don’t know |
7.5 |
(6.3) |
(7.9) |
Q: Name up to three countries that you like.
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
United States of America |
40.3 |
(39.7) |
(39.8) |
|
Russia |
2.3 |
(2.3) |
(3.1) |
|
United Kingdom |
38.4 |
(38.2) |
(37.9) |
|
France |
35.0 |
(35.5) |
(35.2) |
|
Germany |
31.0 |
(31.9) |
(34.5) |
|
Switzerland |
40.7 |
(41.8) |
(42.0) |
|
India |
7.0 |
(6.2) |
(5.9) |
|
China |
2.3 |
(1.6) |
(1.5) |
|
South Korea |
4.8 |
(4.8) |
(4.5) |
|
North Korea |
0.1 |
(–) |
(0.1) |
|
None/Don’t know |
18.9 |
(19.6) |
(17.8) |
|
Simple total |
220.7 |
(221.7) |
(222.4) |
Q: Name up to three countries that you dislike.
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
United States of America |
5.8 |
(4.8) |
(5.5) |
|
Russia |
19.8 |
(24.0) |
(21.6) |
|
United Kingdom |
0.7 |
(0.5) |
(0.8) |
|
France |
0.2 |
(0.4) |
(0.5) |
|
Germany |
0.8 |
(1.2) |
(1.1) |
|
Switzerland |
0.5 |
(0.4) |
(0.3) |
|
India |
2.6 |
(2.8) |
(2.3) |
|
China |
61.5 |
(61.9) |
(64.0) |
|
South Korea |
37.4 |
(35.3) |
(35.5) |
|
North Korea |
87.6 |
(87.9) |
(86.8) |
|
None/Don’t know |
8.0 |
(7.8) |
(7.9) |
|
Simple total |
225.0 |
(227.0) |
(226.2) |
Q: Which country or region do you think will become important for Japan as a bilateral relationship over the next five years? Select up to three from the below.
|
Oct. |
(Sept.) |
(Aug.) |
|
|
United States of America |
75.0 |
(75.9) |
(76.7) |
|
Canada |
2.4 |
(4.7) |
(1.9) |
|
Russia |
21.1 |
(22.6) |
(22.0) |
|
Other FSU (former Soviet Union) |
1.0 |
(0.4) |
(0.8) |
|
Europe |
14.1 |
(14.8) |
(15.3) |
|
India |
14.1 |
(13.6) |
(13.9) |
|
China |
50.8 |
(49.9) |
(55.4) |
|
Taiwan |
5.2 |
(5.5) |
(5.3) |
|
South Korea |
14.1 |
(16.5) |
(14.7) |
|
North Korea |
16.4 |
(13.6) |
(14.3) |
|
Southeast Asia |
15.9 |
(18.0) |
(16.8) |
|
Latin America |
1.7 |
(2.0) |
(1.8) |
|
Middle East |
2.5 |
(2.9) |
(3.1) |
|
Africa |
4.5 |
(3.4) |
(2.4) |
|
Oceania |
1.5 |
(2.5) |
(1.8) |
|
Don’t know |
9.1 |
(7.1) |
(6.1) |
|
Simple total |
249.3 |
(253.5) |
(252.4) |
Polling methodology (October 2017): The survey was conducted over the four-day period of Oct. 6–9 through individual interviews. For the survey, a total of 2,000 people were sampled from among men and women, aged 18 and over, across the nation on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. Valid responses were received from 1,301 people for a valid response rate of 65.1%.
Polling methodology (September 2017): The survey was conducted over the four-day period of on Sept. 8–11 through individual interviews. For the survey, a total of 2,000 people were sampled from among men and women, aged 18 and over, across the nation on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. Valid responses were received from 1,276 people for a valid response rate of 63.8%.
Polling methodology (August 2017): The survey was conducted over the four-day period of Aug. 3–6 through individual interviews. For the survey, a total of 2,000 people were sampled from among men and women, aged 18 and over, across the nation on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. Valid responses were received from 1,298 people for a valid response rate of 64.9%.
