Questions & answers (%)
Q1: There will be a presidential election in the U.S. this year. How interested are you in the election? (Select only one.)
|
Very interested |
20.2 |
|
Somewhat interested |
53.5 |
|
Not very interested |
21.3 |
|
Not interested at all |
4.3 |
|
No answer |
0.6 |
Q2: Do you think it would have a more negative or more positive impact on Japan if President Donald Trump were to be reelected in this year’s election? (Select only one.)
|
More positive than negative |
10.3 |
|
More negative than positive |
57.0 |
|
No particular impact |
31.5 |
|
No answer |
1.2 |
Q3: President Trump advocates an “America First policy,” which places highest priority on U.S. interests. Do you think this is good?
|
Yes |
19.2 |
|
No |
79.8 |
|
No answer |
1.0 |
Q4: How do you think U.S. influence on the international community has changed since the Trump administration came into office? (Select only one.)
|
Strengthened |
44.6 |
|
Weakened |
24.8 |
|
Not changed |
29.2 |
|
No answer |
1.3 |
Q5: How would you assess Japan-U.S. ties today? (Select only one.)
|
Very good |
2.7 |
|
Good |
54.1 |
|
Not very good |
39.1 |
|
Not good at all |
3.0 |
|
No answer |
1.1 |
Q6: What direction do you think Japan-U.S. ties will move in overall going forward? (Select only one.)
|
Positive direction |
10.1 |
|
Not positive |
24.4 |
|
No different from today |
64.6 |
|
No answer |
1.0 |
Q7: How would you describe the relationship between Japan and the United States today? (Select the one closest to your view.)
|
Japan and the United States are on an equal footing |
6.4 |
|
The United States is in the dominant position |
92.0 |
|
Japan is in the dominant position |
0.4 |
|
No answer |
1.3 |
Q8: Do you think America is a trustworthy and cooperative ally?
|
Yes |
52.6 |
|
No |
45.9 |
|
No answer |
1.5 |
Q9: How do you think the alliance with the U.S. based on the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty should develop in the future? (Select only one.)
|
It should be further strengthened |
18.2 |
|
It should be maintained as is |
55.1 |
|
The level of cooperation should be lessened from the current level |
21.9 |
|
It should be dissolved |
3.3 |
|
No answer |
1.5 |
Q10: President Trump is seeking to substantially increase Japan’s “sympathy budget” [omoiyari yosan], the amount Japan pays for U.S. troops to be stationed in Japan. How do you think the Japanese government should handle this? (Select only one.)
|
It is inevitable that the amount Japan pays will increase |
17.0 |
|
The amount does not need to be increased |
81.3 |
|
No answer |
1.6 |
Q11: The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty stipulates America’s obligation to protect Japan and permits the U.S. military to use bases and facilities in Japan. What kinds of results do you think this treaty has produced? (Select one for each item.)
|
|
Agree |
Generally agree |
Generally disagree |
Disagree |
No answer |
|
It has ensured Japan’s security |
20.6 |
54.6 |
16.5 |
5.2 |
3.1 |
|
It has played a part in America’s international strategy |
26.4 |
54.8 |
12.5 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
|
It allowed Japan to keep down defense costs and as a result the Japanese economy has developed |
9.5 |
25.3 |
42.6 |
19.1 |
3.4 |
|
The burden of the U.S. military bases in Japan has increased |
28.8 |
48.3 |
15.3 |
4.6 |
3.1 |
|
It has contributed to peace in the Asia-Pacific region |
13.4 |
46.1 |
29.0 |
8.1 |
3.5 |
Q12: Given the current international situation, how much risk do you think there is that Japan will be subject to terrorism or be attacked by another country? (Select only one.)
|
Great risk |
16.4 |
|
Some risk |
69.2 |
|
Not very much risk |
12.5 |
|
No risk at all |
0.6 |
|
No answer |
1.3 |
Q13: Do you approve of revising Article 9 of the Constitution to clearly stipulate the existence of the Self-Defense Forces? (Select only one.)
|
Approve |
18.9 |
|
Generally approve |
27.7 |
|
Generally oppose |
33.1 |
|
Oppose |
18.0 |
|
No answer |
2.3 |
Q14: Do you think Japan needs the “nuclear umbrella” of the United States for its security? In other words, does Japan need to depend on the deterrence of the United States? (Select the one closest to your view.)
|
Japan needs it now and in the future |
38.5 |
|
Japan needs it now but will not need it in the future |
25.2 |
|
Japan does not need it now but will in the future |
8.7 |
|
Japan does not need it now or in the future |
25.2 |
|
No answer |
2.3 |
Q15: How hopeful are you that the denuclearization of North Korea will be advanced by the Trump administration? (Select only one.)
|
Very hopeful |
10.4 |
|
Somewhat hopeful |
23.4 |
|
Not very hopeful |
44.5 |
|
Not hopeful at all |
20.7 |
|
No answer |
1.0 |
Q16: How dependable do you think the Trump administration is in terms of working toward the resolution of the North Korean abduction issue? (Select only one.)
|
Very dependable |
1.3 |
|
Somewhat dependable |
15.4 |
|
Not very dependable |
52.3 |
|
Not dependable at all |
30.2 |
|
No answer |
1.0 |
Q17: The U.S. and China are engaged in a fierce struggle for hegemony in the fields of security and economy. Which country do you think Japan should place more value on, the U.S. or China? (Select the one closest to your view.)
|
The U.S. |
34.4 |
|
China |
2.8 |
|
Japan should place value on both nations |
54.6 |
|
There is no need for Japan to place value on either nation |
7.3 |
|
No answer |
0.8 |
Q18: What amount of political influence would you like to see the United States exercise in the Asia-Pacific region going forward? (Select only one.)
|
The U.S. should exercise more influence than it does currently |
23.1 |
|
The U.S. should exercise less influence |
15.8 |
|
The U.S. should continue to exercise the same amount as it does now |
59.5 |
|
No answer |
1.5 |
Q19: Do you think the U.S. should play a leadership role in the international community?
|
Yes |
62.6 |
|
No |
36.1 |
|
No answer |
1.2 |
Q20: To reduce the U.S. budget deficit, the Trump administration is placing tariffs on foreign products and is pressuring nations to make concessions in trade negotiations. Do you approve of this methodology?
|
Yes |
10.3 |
|
No |
88.6 |
|
No answer |
1.1 |
Q21: The Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal, under which the U.S. and the European Union removed economic sanctions on Iran in return for Iran’s substantial limitation of its nuclear development program. Do you approve of this U.S. Middle East policy? (Select only one.)
|
Strongly approve |
1.3 |
|
Somewhat approve |
19.8 |
|
Don’t approve very much |
53.2 |
|
Don’t approve at all |
23.8 |
|
No answer |
1.9 |
Q22: The Trump administration has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, an international framework that aims to reduce greenhouse gases through global warming countermeasures. Do you approve of this decision? (Select only one.)
|
Strongly approve |
1.3 |
|
Somewhat approve |
8.2 |
|
Don’t approve very much |
35.0 |
|
Don’t approve at all |
54.3 |
|
No answer |
1.2 |
Q23: Have you ever visited the U.S.?
|
Yes |
32.3 |
|
No |
67.2 |
|
No answer |
0.5 |
Q24: Do you have any American acquaintances or friends?
|
Yes |
13.5 |
|
No |
86.0 |
|
No answer |
0.5 |
Q25: What are your impressions of the United States? (Select as many as apply.)
|
A nation where freedom and equality are guaranteed |
20.1 |
|
A nation accepting of diverse values |
49.5 |
|
An economic power |
51.5 |
|
A nation that creates innovative technologies and services |
26.2 |
|
A peaceful country |
2.5 |
|
A nation that has outstanding culture and entertainment |
21.1 |
|
A nation with much racial discrimination |
55.3 |
|
A country with serious immigrant issues |
38.4 |
|
A nation with large disparities |
57.4 |
|
A nation with fierce competition |
33.1 |
|
A military power |
52.9 |
|
A nation that has serious problems with gun use and drugs |
76.7 |
|
None of the above |
0.9 |
|
No answer |
0.8 |
Q26: Which post-World War II U.S. president do you view most highly? (Select as many as apply.)
|
Harry S. Truman (33rd president; 1945–1953) |
0.4 |
|
Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th president; 1953–1961) |
2.2 |
|
John F. Kennedy (35th president; 1961–1963) |
16.7 |
|
Lyndon B. Johnson (36th president; 1963–1969) |
0.3 |
|
Richard Nixon (37th president; 1969–1974) |
1.0 |
|
Gerald Ford (38th president; 1974–1977) |
0.0 |
|
Jimmy Carter (39th president; 1977–1981) |
2.0 |
|
Ronald Reagan (40th president; 1981–1989) |
10.8 |
|
George H. W. Bush (41st president; 1989–1993) |
1.6 |
|
Bill Clinton (42nd president; 1993–2001) |
3.5 |
|
George W. Bush (43rd president; 2001–2009) |
1.6 |
|
Barack Obama (44th president; 2009–2017) |
54.4 |
|
Donald Trump (45th president; 2017–) |
1.6 |
|
No answer |
3.9 |
Q27: How close do you feel to each of the following countries or regions? (Select one for each item.)
|
|
Very close |
Somewhat close |
Not very close |
Not close at all |
No answer |
|
U.S. |
12.9 |
59.1 |
19.5 |
6.4 |
2.0 |
|
China |
1.6 |
20.0 |
44.2 |
31.4 |
2.7 |
|
South Korea |
3.7 |
25.6 |
33.8 |
34.2 |
2.7 |
|
Russia |
0.4 |
8.2 |
46.4 |
42.1 |
2.9 |
|
India |
2.7 |
25.6 |
43.1 |
25.7 |
2.9 |
|
EU |
5.1 |
40.8 |
34.0 |
16.6 |
3.5 |
Q28: Do you support the Abe cabinet?
|
Yes |
45.7 |
|
No |
51.7 |
|
No answer |
2.6 |
Q29: Which political party do you support now? (Select only one.)
|
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Jiminto) |
37.0 |
|
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ or Rikken Minshuto) |
7.9 |
|
Democratic Party for the People (DPFP or Kokumin Minshuto) |
0.7 |
|
Komeito (Komeito) |
4.4 |
|
Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (Nippon Ishin no Kai) |
2.9 |
|
Japanese Communist Party (JCP or Kyosanto) |
2.5 |
|
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) |
0.9 |
|
Reiwa Shinsengumi (Reiwa Shinsengumi) |
1.2 |
|
Party to Protect the People from NHK (NHK kara Kokumin wo Mamoru To) |
0.5 |
|
Other political groups |
0.0 |
|
I do not support any particular political party |
41.3 |
|
No answer |
0.6 |
Polling methodology: The mail-in survey was conducted on Feb. 13–March 23, 2020, of 3,600 Japanese men and women aged 18 or over nationwide selected from the basic registry of residents at 300 locations on a stratified two-stage random-sampling basis, with 12 people selected from each location. Valid responses were received from 2,195 people for a valid response rate of 61.0%.
Breakdown of respondents: Male, 45.3%; female, 54.7%. Age 18–29, 9.4%; 30s, 10.0%; 40s, 14.9%; 50s, 16.5%; 60s, 18.7%; 70 and over, 30.4%.
