The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commissioned an opinion poll “2007 U.S. Image of Japan Study,” and the main results are as follows. This poll is the latest in a series of similar opinion polls conducted almost every year since 1960.

 

 

1.  The 2007 Image of Japan Study continues to show the respondents’ positive views of Japan and a positive evaluation of Japan-U.S. relations in general, a trend that has continued for several years.  The perception of Japan as a dependable ally remains at a very high level, with 74% of the general public and 91% of opinion leaders.  Both among the general public and opinion leaders, the positive evaluation of the current level of cooperation between Japan and the U.S. marks the highest level ever attained (67%: general public, 86%: opinion leaders), even exceeding last year's record levels.  The percentage of the respondents who think Japan shares common values with the U.S. remained as high as last year (83%: general public, 94%: opinion leaders).

 

 

2. The percentage of Americans who cite Japan as the most important Asian partner of the U.S. has increased both among general public and opinion leaders since last year (45% to 48%: general public, 47% to 53%: opinion leaders).

 

 

3.  In terms of effective measures that should be taken to improve Japan-U.S. relations, the percentage of those who answered the “improvement of economic and trade relations” was highest (36%) both among the general public and opinion leaders, and the percentage of “Promotion of cooperation on global issues” has also been increasing in recent years.  

 

 

4.  With regard to the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, a vast majority (87% of the general public, 88% of opinion leaders) expressed the view that the treaty should be maintained.  The percentage of those who answered that the Security Treaty was “very important” or “somewhat important” for the security of the U.S. itself was also high (89% of the general public and 88% of opinion leaders). Thus, strong support for the Japan-U.S. security arrangements was reconfirmed.

 

 

5. The perception of Japan ’s attributes was surveyed only among the general public this year.  Positive images got high points, with Japan viewed as “a country with great traditions and culture,” “a country with a strong economy and high technology,” and “a country with beautiful nature,” “a country which provides information on such new cultures as anime, fashion, and cuisine,” and “a country which has a strong potential for growth.”

 

 

6.  The question of whether Japan should be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council was surveyed among opinion leaders for the first time, and 52% of the respondents answered affirmatively.

 

 

More information about this study is available at:

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/6/1174181_828.html

 

 

[Related links]

* Overview of Japan-U.S. Relations

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/japanus/japanusoverview2007_2.htm