2005 Image of Japan Study in the U.S.
(Summary)

August 2005

1. Results Overview

The 2005 Image of Japan Study continues to show a positive evaluation of Japan-U.S. relations.

The perception of Japan as a dependable ally remains at a very high level (90%) among opinion leaders. The same perception is shared by the general public, reaching the highest level (72%) in the past 10 years. The percentage of those who state that the U.S. and Japan have a good understanding of each other has increased both among the general public and opinion leaders, reaching the highest level since 1989.

What is unchanged from the 2004 study is that Japan is perceived as the most important partner in Asia among the general public and opinion leaders. In the meantime, it is notable that the current findings show a 17 percentage point decline in opinion leaders' view of Japan as the most important partner of the U.S. in Asia and a corresponding 14 percentage point increase in those leaders' stating China.

As for the question on countries sharing common values with the U.S., as in 2004, Japan ranks second following the U.K. among the general public, and third after the U.K. and Germany among opinion leaders.

In terms of economic relations, a large percentage of respondents still see the need for improvement in trade and economic relations for a closer bilateral tie. When asked about the main reasons for the Japan-U.S. trade imbalance, the decrease in the percentage of respondents in the general public who mentioned the closed nature of Japan's market is remarkable. To the question whether Japan's role in the international society is commensurate with its economic strength, 69% (the highest record) of opinion leaders responded affirmatively.

With regard to the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, similar to 2004, strong support for the treaty was reconfirmed, as the large majority (86% of the general public and 83% of opinion leaders) express their view that the treaty should be maintained.

With regard to the sources of information about Japan, the percentage of respondents who cited School Studies and Movies has decreased.

2. Specific Findings

(Figures in brackets are of the last year and the preceding year respectively. See the attached graphs for past trends in major questions).

(1) Perception of Japan as a Dependable Ally or Friend (See Graph 1)

- Rating of respondents who consider Japan as a dependable ally or friend

General public: 72% *
(68%, 67%)

Opinion leaders: 90%
(89%, 91% *)

*: highest figures

(2) Evaluation of Overall Bilateral Relations Between Japan and the U.S.

- The most important partner to the U.S. in the Asian region (See Graphs 2 and 3)

1: Japan

General public: 48%
(48%, 47%)

Opinion leaders: 48%
(65%, 63%)

2: China

General public: 26%
(26%, 20%)

Opinion leaders: 38%
(24%, 25%)

3. Russia

General public: 13%
(9%, 13%)

Opinion leaders: 9%
(7%, 6%)

- Evaluation of the present level of Japan-U.S. cooperation in general rating of positive responses, either "excellent" or "good" (See Graph 4)

General public: 61%
(60%, 56%)

Opinion leaders: 83% *
(82%, 78%)

*: highest figures

- Japan-U.S. relations in the future

(Will improve)

General public: 46%
(44%, 40%)

Opinion leaders: 29% (See Graph 5)
(30%, 34%)

(Will not change)

General public: 42%
(43%, 45%)

Opinion leaders: 62%
(59%, 50%)

(Will get worse)

General public: 9%
(8%, 12%)

Opinion leaders: 5%
(7%, 11%)

- The way which would help most to improve relations between the U.S. and Japan.

"Improve economic/trade Relations"

General public: 38%
(42%, 35%)

Opinion leaders: 50%
(53%, 47%)

"Strengthen political/security Relations"

General public: 25%
(25%, 32%)

Opinion leaders: 16%
(15%, 26%)

"Increase global cooperation"

General public: 26%
(23%, 22%)

Opinion leaders: 28%
(26%, 22%)

"Promote cultural exchanges"

General public: 9%
(7%, 8%)

Opinion leaders: 6%
(5%, 4%)

- Degree of mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the U.S.

(Good)

General public: 36% *
(7%, 8%)

Opinion leaders: 23% * (See Graph 6)
(22%, 19%)

(Fair)

General public: 47%
(50%, 53%)

Opinion leaders: 60%
(61%, 61%)

(Poor)

General public: 16%
(18%, 17%)

Opinion leaders: 17%
(17%, 18%)

*: highest figures

(3) Evaluation of the Japan-U.S. Security Arrangements

- Maintenance of the Japan-US Security Treaty (See Graph 7)

(The Treaty should be maintained)

General public: 86%
(85%, 87% *)

Opinion leaders: 83%
(83%, 87%)

*: highest figures

- The contribution of the Japan-US Security Treaty to the peace and stability of Japan and the Far East (See Graph 8)

(Rating of positive responses, either "Great deal" or "Moderate amount")

General public: 72%
(72%, 74%)

General public: 80%
(80%, 83%)

- Importance of the Japan-US Security Treaty for U.S. security interests (See Graph 9)

(Rating of positive responses, either "very important" or "somewhat important")

General public: 86%
(86%, 89% *)

Opinion leaders: 82%
(83%, 84%)

*: highest figures

(4) Economic and Trade Relations

- The main reasons for Japan-US trade imbalance (See Graphs 10 and 11)

"The closed nature of Japan's market"

General public: 34% *
(37%, 43%)

Opinion leaders: 36%
(32% *, 44%)
*: lowest figures

"Macro-economic discrepancies in both countries"

General public: 29%
(27%, 26%)

Opinion leaders: 35%
(41% *, 35%)

"U.S. industry's weak competitiveness"

General public: 30% *
(29%, 23%)

Opinion leaders: 23% *
(23%, 11%)
*: highest figures

(5) Evaluation of Japan's International Role

- Does Japan play an important international role commensurate with its economic strength? (See Graph 12)

"Yes"

General public: 60%
(60%, 56%)

Opinion leaders: 69% *
(65%, 62%)
*: highest figure

"No"

General public: 29%
(29%, 33%)

Opinion leaders: 29%
(35%, 36%)

- In the following areas, does Japan currently play an important international role? (Rating of positive response)

"Improve economic/trade Relations"

"Science / Technology"

General public: 57%
(58%, 53%)

Opinion leaders: 96%
(96%, 96%)

"Global Economy"

General public: 53%
(53%, 50%)

Opinion leaders: 97%
(91%, 93%)

"Cultural exchange"

General public: 49%
(48%, 44%)

Opinion leaders: 65%
(60%, 60%)

"World Politics"

General public :38%
(38%, 37%)

Opinion leaders: 67%
(62%, 60%)

"Global Issues"

General public: 37%
(36%, 30%)

Opinion leaders: 69%
(57%, 59%)

"Security (including PKO)"

General public: 31%
(31%, 25%)

Opinion leaders: 39%
(39%, 24%)

"Economic Aid"

General public: 34%
(30%, 22%)

Opinion leaders: 70%
(61%, 54%)

(6) Perceptions of countries sharing common values with U.S.

-To what extent do the following countries or regions share generally common values with the U.S.?

<General public>

Country	very much	(great extent, some extent)	little extent	none	no opinion
U.K.	83%	(53%, 30%)	9%	4%	4%
Japan	79%	(24%, 55%)	15%	4%	2%
Germany	74%	(23%, 51%)	17%	5%	4%
Russia	59%	(11%, 48%)	29%	9%	3%
France	57%	(13%, 44%)	27%	12%	4%
Taiwan	56%	(15%, 41%)	27%	9%	8%
Mainland China	47%	(11%, 36%)	35%	15%	3%
North Korea	19%	(5%, 14%)	34%	42%	5%

<Opinion leaders>

Country	very much	(great extent, some extent)	little extent	none	no opinion
U.K.	96%	(78%, 18%)	2%	2%	0%
Germany	92%	(40%, 52%)	6%	2%	0%
Japan	91%	(39%, 52%)	8%	1%	0%
Taiwan	84%	(32%, 52%)	12%	2%	2%
France	76%	(24%, 52%)	19%	4%	1%
Russia	69%	(4%, 65%)	27%	4%	0%
Mainland China	50%	(6%, 44%)	39%	10%	1%
North Korea	9%	(1%, 8%)	23%	66%	2%

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(Notes)

1. Period conducted: February-March 2005
2. Survey methodology:

   (1) For the "general public" group, telephone interviews were carried out with 1,500 people (men and women aged 18 or over).

   (2) For the "opinion leaders" group, telephone interviews were carried out with 254 people in leading positions in the field of the federal government, large business, organized labor, the media, academia and organized religion.

   (3) The reliability of the survey:
   The degree of reliability is 95% for both groups. The sampling error is ±3% for the "general public" group and ±6% for the "opinion leaders" group (for results based on samples of this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of error is ±3 percentage points for general public and ±6 percentage points for opinion leaders).

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