From Poll 1997

This is an archive of excerpts from opinion pall by major journalism.

Cabinet Support dropped

The Asahi Shimbun's face to face survey about the cabinet support, on December 14 and 15, 1997 (responded by 2,314) showed sharp drop of cabinet support. Many people are not satisfied its economy handling. 56% disagreed with the proposed ¥10 trillion new bond to help financial institutions.

(December 17, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

On Administrative Reform

[chart:79% think reform not going right direction] The Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone survey on November 9 and 10, 1997, asking about the current administrative reform such as independence of postal services (responded by 1,196). Most people do not believe this administrative reform goes the right direction that people want. Opinions about independent agency plan for postal services are splitted half and half. While cabinet support recovered to 44% from 35% in September, support for ruling LDP dropped to 31%, a 1 point down from previous survey.
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(September 21, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Cabinet Support after trouble

The Asahi Shimbun's emergency telephone survey about the cabinet support, on September 19 and 20, 1997 (responded by 1,062) exhibited strong disapproval of its recent appointment of ex-convict Koko Sato as the Director General of the Prime Minster's Office. Support dropped to only 35%, the worst since the launch of Hashimoto Cabinet January 1996.
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(September 21, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Hashimot Cabinet Support

The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey about the cabinet support, on September 7 and 8, 1997 (responded by 2,240). The cabinet support largely improved to 53% from 43% in June, while other poll by the Mainichi Shimbun shows dropping figure with only 37% support. Somebody explains that the 53% is the peak of the cabinet and 37% will infer the reality from now on. Especially after the new cabinet member announcement and progress in administrative reform, the popularity of the cabinet will drop. (It really did -- See below and emergency poll)
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(September 10, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Disapproval of the new cabinet is running more than twice as high as approval, suggesting widespread dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's decision to name convicted bribe-taker Koko Sato to head the Management and Coordination Agency. Results of a Nikkei telephone survey show 58.3% of respondents assessing the second-term Hashimoto cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party appointments unfavorably, with 24.4% approving of them.

(September 17, 1997, The Nikkei Shimbun)

Japanese and Pets

[chart:60% prefer dog to cat] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on June 8 and 9, 1997, asking about their view on pets (responded by 2,248). Six out of ten answered that they have pet or want to have. While many admit the advantages of pets, 40% see problems in owners' manners and majority do not want to allow pets in condominium.
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(June 28, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

On Earth Environment

[chart:85% thinks Japan is responsible] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on June 8 and 9, 1997, asking about their view on the earth environment (responded by 2,248). 85% answered that Japan is considerably responsible for the earth environmental pollution, and 58% thought "environmental tax" should be introduced, while only 10% regarded Japanese government is active enough on this issue.
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(June 21, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

The Brain Death and Politics

[chart:40% agree with law statement that brain death is human death while 42% disagree] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on May 24 and 25, 1997, asking about their view on current politics and brain death (organ transplant) bill (responded by 1,232). The opinion about whether to regard the brain death as the human death was divided almost half and half, while the majority agree to the organ transplant itself.
Cabinet support rose slightly to 45%, but LDP support dropped down to 29%.
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(May 27, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Constitution of Japan 1997

[chart:46% say some of constitution be amended, but only 20% for article 9] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on April 20 and 21, 1997, asking about their view on the Constitution (responded by 2,251). Majority of Japanese people think that article 9 (renunciation of war) has contributed to the peace and should not be amended, while 46% think some part of the Constitution should be amended. First time in the survey history, majority answered that the SDF is constitutional.
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(April 26, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Japan-US Relationship 1997

[chart:In 1995, 23.2% Jp and 28.5% US said good - in 1997, 45.7% and 46%]Sentiment between Japanese and Americans has sharply improved recently, according to the results of a survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and the Gallup Organization in January and February. 46 percent of both Japanese and Americans said the current Japan-U.S. relationship was good, up 23 points from the previous survey among Japanese and up 18 points among Americans.
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(March 17, 1997, Yomiuri Shimbun)

Japanese View on Society and Living 1997

[chart:will become better=8%, unchanged=60%, worse=26%] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on March 2 and 3, 1997, asking about their view on society, policy and living (responded by 2,203). Majority of Japanese people are satisfied with current living while think the bold renovation is necessary. Perspectives on the future of this country became a bit worse compared to the similar survey in 1994.
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(March 8, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Cabinet support drops

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun's survey on March 7 to 9, the cabinet support dropped to 36.1%, a sharp down from 47.1% in January. It was a telephone survey to 3,000 and 1,700 responded. Similar poll by the Asahi Shimbun on Mar 2 and 3 exhibited 43% support (reported on Mar 5). Main reasons of non-support are bad policy (49.3%) and no leadershop (42.8%)

(March 11, 1997, Nihon Keizai Shimbun)

Evaluation of Hahimoto cabinet

The Asahi Shimbun conducted telephone survey on February 9 and 10, 1997, asking about their evaluation of Hashimoto cabinet (responded by 1,219). Cabinet support dropped sharply to 42% from 55% in Dec.'96. Many people are not satisfied with the budget for next fiscal year and government's reaction to many problems
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(February 11, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)

Japanese view on jobs and life

[chart: more income=32%, less job hours=50%] The Asahi Shimbun conducted face to face survey on November 24 and 25, 1996 asking about their view on jobs and life, and Japan-US relationship (to 2,325 persons). People gradually change their mind about job, and there are certainly less "workaholics" in Japan. Some questions are comparable with US survey on the same period.

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(January 1, 1997, The Asahi Shimbun)