The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned research agencies to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in the United States, Canada, five European countries, Russia and four Central Asian countries from January to February in 2019. The results of the poll are as follows.
1. United States
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan contracted with Nielsen Consumer Insights Inc. to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in the United States in January 2019. In the “general public” division, 1,036 adults responded online. In the “opinion leaders” division, 200 people in leading positions in the fields of government, business, academia, the news media, religion and labor unions responded via telephone.
(1) The poll showed 70% (vs. 69% in 2018) of the general public and 69% (vs. 66% in 2018) of the opinion leaders viewed cooperation between Japan and the U.S. as “excellent” or “good”. The percentage who perceived Japan as a reliable partner was 82% (vs. 87% in 2018) among the general public and was 90% (vs. 86% in 2018) among opinion leaders, showing a high figure.
(2) As for the question “which country is the most important partner of the U.S. in Asia,” the percentage of Japan was the largest among Asian countries at 31% (vs. 33% in 2018) among the general public and at 45% (vs. 33% in 2018) among the opinion leaders.
(3) As for whether Japan and the U.S. should closely cooperate for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region, 90% (vs. 95% in 2018) of the general public and 99% (same in 2018) of the opinion leaders favors the idea. In addition, 62% (vs. 63% in 2018) among the general public and 90% (vs. 87% in 2018) among the opinion leaders responded that Japan should play a more proactive role.
(4) Concerning what policy Japan should focus on in order to deepen economic ties between Japan and the U.S. (survey targeted only the opinion leaders), 99% responded that Japan should “promote cooperation in trade and investment,” followed by 93% who said Japan should “promote technological cooperation such as clean energy and high-speed railway systems,” and 55% who said cooperation to “develop natural resources such as shale gas.”
2. Canada
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned IPSOS Indonesia to conduct an opinion poll with 1,500 respondents aged from 18 to 69 through online in February 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in Canada was in 2009.)
(1) 73% of the respondents answered “friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 69% of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 76% of the respondents answered that Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 65% of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on what extent Japan plays an important role in stabilization and growth of world economy.
(4) 77% of the respondents answered “very valuable” or “valuable” on how they rate Japan’s proactive contribution to the peace and stability of the region and the international community for maintaining global peace and establishment of international order.
(5) For the question on what is important for developing Canada-Japan relations, 47% responded “expanding trade and investment,” followed by 13% who chose “strengthening relationships on the security front,” and 11% who chose “increasing people/cultural exchanges.”
3. Five European Countries (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Hungary)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned IPSOS Indonesia to conduct an opinion poll in five countries in Europe (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Hungary) with 500 respondents aged from 18 to 69 in each country through online in February 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll was conducted in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Poland in 2017.)
(1) 69% (previous survey: 70%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 66% (same in the previous survey) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 78% (previous survey: 77%) of the respondents answered that Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 68% (previous survey: 70%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on what extent Japan plays an important role in stabilization and growth of the world economy. This proves that Japan’s contribution to the world economy is appreciated.
(4) 74% (previous survey: 73%) of the respondents answered “very valuable” or “valuable” on how they rate Japan’s proactive contribution to the peace and stability of the region and the international community for maintaining global peace and establishment of international order.
(5) 40% of the respondents chose Japan as the important partner for the respondent’s country in security and economic relations in the Indo-Pacific region, which ranked Japan second behind the United States.
4. Russia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned IPSOS Indonesia to conduct an opinion poll with 3,600 respondents aged from 18 to 69 through telephone interview in February 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll was conducted in 2016.)
(1) 71% (previous survey: 78%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 45% (previous survey: 52%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 79% (previous survey: 81%) of the respondents answered that Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 75% (previous survey: 76%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on what extent Japan plays an important role in stabilization and growth of the world economy.
(4) 71% (previous survey: 76%) of the respondents answered “very valuable” or “valuable” on how they rate Japan’s proactive contribution to the peace and stability of the region and the international community for maintaining global peace and establishment of international order.
(5) For the question on fields of cooperative relations between Russia and Japan to be strengthened, 75% of respondents answered “science and technology,” followed by 56% who chose “trade and investment,” 48% who chose “foreign policy and security,” and the same who chose “cultural/people exchanges.”
5. Central Asia Region (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned IPSOS Indonesia to conduct an opinion poll in four countries in Central Asia (the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan) with 300 respondents aged from 18 to 69 in each country through telephone and door to door interview in February 2019. (The last opinion poll was conducted in 2015 – 2016 in the same four countries as in this year.)
(1) 64% (previous survey: 89%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 61% (previous survey: 63%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 68% (previous survey: 75%) of the respondents answered that Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 66% (previous survey: 78%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on what extent Japan plays an important role in stabilization and growth of the world economy.
(4) 70% (previous survey: 78%) of the respondents answered “very valuable” or “valuable” on how they rate Japan’s proactive contribution to the peace and stability of the region and the international community for maintaining global peace and establishment of international order.
(5) 79% of the respondents answered that the Foreign Ministers’ Meetings as well as other various meetings and symposiums within the framework of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue since 2004 has been contributing to the development of regional cooperation.
Read more: https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/press4e_002451.html
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