Press Releases
Opinion Poll on Japan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned research agencies to conduct an opinion poll on the impression of Japan in ASEAN, Mongolia, Australia, India, the United States and three African countries in November 2019. The results of the poll are as follows.
1. United States
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan contracted with Harris Poll to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in the United States in November 2019. In the “general public” part, 1,015 adults responded online. In the “opinion leaders” part, 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 63% (vs. 70% in February 2019) of the general public and 67% (vs. 69% in February 2019) 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 85% (vs. 82% in February 2019) among the general public and was 89% (vs. 90% in February 2019) 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 34% (vs. 31% in February 2019) among the general public and at 42% (vs. 45% in February 2019) 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, 92% (vs. 90% in February 2019) of the general public and 100% (99% in February 2019) of the opinion leaders favors the idea. In addition, 69% (vs. 62% in February 2019) among the general public and 89% (vs. 90% in February 2019) 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), 97% responded that Japan should “promote cooperation in trade and investment,” followed by 90% who said Japan should “promote technological cooperation such as clean energy and high-speed railway systems,” and 61% who said cooperation to “develop natural resources such as shale gas.”
2. ASEAN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct an opinion poll with 3,000 respondents aged from 18 to 59 through online and face-to-face interview in November 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in ASEAN countries was in 2017.)
(1) 93% (previous survey: 87%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 93% (previous survey: 84%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 90% (previous survey: 85%) of the respondents answered “a lot” or “to some extent” on how much they valued Japan as a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 87% (previous survey: 83%) 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) 92% (previous survey: 83%) 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) 51% (previous survey: 47%) of the respondents chose Japan as an important partner in the future for the respondent’s country, which put Japan top among the G20 countries.
3. Mongolia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct an opinion poll with 300 respondents aged from 18 to 59 through face-to-face interview in November 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in Mongolia was in 2005.)
(1) 87% of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 76% of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 82% of the respondents answered “a lot” or “to some extent” on how much they valued Japan as a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 87% 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.
(4) 27% of the respondents chose Japan as a country that they wanted to go for study or they want to recommend people around them to go for study, which put Japan top among G20 countries.
(5) 39% of the respondents chose Japan among G20 countries as an important partner in the future for the respondent’s country, which ranked Japan second behind Russia.
4. Australia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct an opinion poll with 400 respondents aged from 18 to 69 through online in November 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in Australia was in 2017.)
(1) 79% (previous survey: 82%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 71% (previous survey: 76%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 77% (previous survey: 79%) of the respondents answered “a lot” or “to some extent” on how much they valued Japan as a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) 62% (previous survey: 71%) 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) 78% (previous survey: 81%) 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% (previous survey: 44%) of the respondents chose Japan as an important partner in the future for the respondent’s country among G20 countries.
5. India
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct an opinion poll with 2,200 respondents aged from 18 to 69 through online in November 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in India was in 2017.)
(1) 95% (previous survey: 92%) of the respondents answered “very friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 95% (previous survey: 94%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 95% (previous survey: 89%) 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 World War II.
(3) 89% (previous survey: 81%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on to what extent Japan plays an important role in stabilization and growth of the world economy.
(4) 95% (previous survey: 88%) 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) 52% (previous survey: 70%) of the respondents chose Japan as an important partner in the future for the respondent’s country, which put Japan top among G20 countries.
6. Three African Countries (Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Edelman Intelligence to conduct an opinion poll with 1,500 respondents (500 each) aged from 18 to 59 through online and face-to-face interview in November 2019. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in African region was in 2016.)
(1) 88% (previous survey: 87%) of the respondents in the three countries answered “friendly” or “somewhat friendly” on how they viewed their country’s relations with Japan. 85% (previous survey: 86%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable” on how they rate Japan as a reliable friend.
(2) 88% (previous survey: 81%) of the respondents in the three countries answered “a lot” or “to some extent” on how much they valued Japan as a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years since the end of the World War II.
(3) In response to the question on whether they expect more investments from Japanese companies to your country, 94% (previous survey: 93%) of respondents in the three countries replied that they do.
(4) 54% (previous survey: 40%) of the respondents in the three countries answered “I know it well” or “I have seen or heard about it” on how well they know Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
(5) 82% (previous survey: 81%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role” on to what extent Japan plays an important role in development cooperation in the international community, including Official Development Assistance (ODA).