Press Releases

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned a research company in India to conduct an opinion survey on the image of Japan from February 16 to March 17, 2013. The following is the summary of survey results.

1. 80% of respondents perceived the current state of Japan-India relations either as being “very friendly” or “friendly.” For this question, 76% of respondents gave the same positive reply in 2009, showing that a positive image of Japan has been established in India.
2. Asked about which countries are important partners for India, 42%, 26%, and 17% of respondents chose the United States, Russia, and Japan, respectively. 95% of survey participants responded positively when asked whether Japan is a reliable friend of India.
3. Respondents perceived Japan as “technologically advanced,” “peace-loving,” and “economically powerful” in descending order in terms of the number of responses, demonstrating that there is a strong public image of Japan as a country with the most advanced science and technology and a peaceful, developed nation. In terms of the image of the Japanese people, highly ranked characteristics were “diligent,” “friendly,” and “efficient in management practices.”
4. Asked about Japan’s international contributions, 71% of survey participants responded positively on the questions of whether Japan is playing an international role commensurate with its economic power. 75% of respondents perceived Japan’s economic assistance to India as beneficial, and 95% of respondents welcomed the presence of Japanese companies in India. It can thus be said that Japan’s international contributions, including economic cooperation projects and its business activities in India, are highly regarded among the Indian people.
5. More than 70% of respondents expressed interest in learning the Japanese language and more than 60% responded affirmatively to the suggestion that more young people should study in Japan in order to gain a higher education. 76% of respondents said that they followed Japan-related media reports regularly or occasionally. Overall, these figures illustrate the Indian survey participants’ strong interest in Japan and the Japanese language.

[Note]
1,711 opinion leaders out of 11 cities and 501 people from the general public in 5 major cities of those 11 cities were surveyed in India. 2,122 people in total were interviewed on an individual basis for this opinion survey on Japan. The above mentioned figures are from opinion leaders.
Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the opinion survey on Japan was also conducted in India in 1986, 2000 and 2009.