Q1: It will be a 50 year anniversary of Japanese Constitution on May 3rd, 1997. How do you perceive the current Constitution ? (Choose one)
| The ideal that we have to follow |
 13%
|
| The rule of the society |
32%
|
| Like an air |
15%
|
| Pie in the sky |
9%
|
| Forced by others |
13%
|
| Seeds of arguments |
9%
|
| Others/NA |
9%
|
Q2: Then, which problem were you reminded of the relationship with the Constitution recently ? (Choose up to two)
| The gap of value of a vote by district |
13%
|
| Discrimination of politics and religion |
17%
|
| The activity of the Self Defense Force |
16%
|
| Japan-US Security Treaty and the US base in Okinawa |
62%
|
| Information disclosure |
13%
|
| Official aid to the victims of the great earthquake |
21%
|
| The discrimination against female to get job |
9%
|
| Violation of privacy |
4%
|
| Bullying and corporal punishment |
12%
|
| Others/NA |
7%
|
Q3: Do you think, in general, current Constitution is good one or not ?
| Good |
 61%
48%
|
| Not good |
24%
34%
|
| Others/NA |
15%
18%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is December '90, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q4: What influence do you think this Constitution has exerted upon Japanese society in last 50 years ? (Choose up to two)
| Continuing peace |
41%
|
| Democracy took root |
26%
|
| Made progress in social welfare |
13%
|
| Became economic superpower |
20%
|
| Generated intimacy with royal family |
7%
|
| Weaken the will to protect this nation |
11%
|
| Stress more on rights than on obligations |
21%
|
| Tendency to rely on social walfare systems |
9%
|
| Became unable to cope with change in international situation |
19%
|
| The authority of Emperor has weakened |
7%
|
| Others/NA |
5%
|
Q5: On which part of the Constitution do you think should be taken more effort to achieve ? (Choose up to two)
| Thoroughgoing the principle of peace |
20%
|
| Solve the discrimination and prejudice |
12%
|
| Improve the morality of bureaucrats |
25%
|
| Secure the freedom of thoughts and expression |
7%
|
| Enrich welfare and social securities |
39%
|
| Protect the rights of workers |
10%
|
| Realize the impartial judgement |
8%
|
| Promote the local autonomy |
9%
|
| Realize the Diet that reflects the public opinion |
51%
|
| Others/NA |
4%
|
Q6: The Constitution states that "All people shall have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultural living". How do you think this is achieved ?
| Almost achieved |
9%
|
| Fairly achieved |
56%
|
| Not well achieved |
28%
|
| Seldom achieved |
4%
|
| Others/NA |
3%
|
Q7: When there is a conflict between public welfare and individual rights, which do you think is regarded more important ?
| Public welfare |
56%
75%
|
| Individual rights |
24%
15%
|
| Others/NA |
20%
10%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is December '78, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q8: Do you think female is discriminated quite often in this society ?
| Yes |
54%
52%
|
| No |
39%
42%
|
| Others/NA |
7%
6%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is September '94, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q9: Do you think your vote has power to influence politics ?
| Yes |
35%
32%
|
| No |
59%
63%
|
| Others/NA |
6%
5%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is June '95, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q10: Diet members, Ministers and bureaucrats are obliged to respect and uphold the Constitution. Do you think they fullfill this obligation ?
| Yes |
16%
|
| No |
72%
|
| Others/NA |
12%
|
Q11: The Supreme Court is expected to determine the constitutionality of any law, order, regulation or official act. Do you think the Supreme Court fullfill the role of the "Keeper of the Constitution" ?
| Yes |
54%
|
| No |
26%
|
| Others/NA |
20%
|
Q12: How do you think about the Emperor system ?
| Should strengthen the authority of the Emperor |
4%
6%
|
| Emperor should stay current position of State Symbol |
83%
82%
|
| Should abolish the Emperor system |
10%
8%
|
| Others/NA |
3%
4%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is January '89, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q13: Do you think Japan is considered reliable by other nations in the world ?
| Yes |
43%
41%
|
| No |
47%
48%
|
| Others/NA |
10%
11%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is December '94, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q14: Japan declared in its Constitution that its people "renounce war" and would never maintain any forces. Do you think this decision was good or not ?
| Good |
82%
82%
|
| Not good |
7%
10%
|
| Others/NA |
11%
8%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is October '78, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q15: There are conflicting opinions that "current SDF is unconsitutional" and "it is constitutional". Which opinion do you agree with ?
| Unconstitutional |
28%
21%
|
| Constitutional |
47%
54%
|
| Cannot decide |
18%
18%
|
| Others/NA |
7%
7%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is September '92, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q16: In which role do you think the SDF should be active from now on ?
| National defense |
19%
20%
|
| Maintain the public peace |
8%
14%
|
| Rescue of domestic disaster |
35%
46%
|
| Partnership with US forces |
0%
0%
|
| Rescue of foreign disaster |
10%
4%
|
| Non-military activities under UN |
18%
8%
|
| Activities including military action under UN |
4%
4%
|
| Others/NA |
6%
4%
|
*row1 1 ( ) is September '92, row 2 ( ) is April '97
Q17: Do you think the declaration of "renunciation of war" in Japanese Constitution has contributed to the peace of Asia-Pacific region ?
| Yes |
72%
|
| No |
17%
|
| Others/NA |
11%
|
Q18: Then, do you think the idea of "renunciation of war" in our Constitution will contribute to future peace of the world ?
| Yes |
73%
|
| No |
16%
|
| Others/NA |
11%
|
Q19: When Japan is requested to help solving international disputes, do you think it will be able to contribute enough under current Constitution ?
| Yes |
24%
|
| No |
60%
|
| Others/NA |
16%
|
Q20: Do you think we should amend the article 9 that declares the renunciation of war and give-up of forces ?
| Yes |
20%
|
| No |
69%
|
| Others/NA |
11%
|
Q21: Reading all chapters, do you think we should amend current Constitution ?
| Yes |
46%
|
| No |
39%
|
| Others/NA |
15%
|
Q22: (To those 46% who answered Yes to the question 21) Which part should be amended ? (Choose one)
| The position and role of the Emperor |
1%
|
| Explicit declaration of the right of self-defense |
5%
|
| Explicit declaration of the military contribution in the international disputes |
10%
|
| New rights such as privacy and environmental issues |
5%
|
| Disclosure of state and local government's information |
7%
|
| Establishment of public election of the Prime Minister and the national referendum |
8%
|
| Re-thinking about the bicameral system of the Diet |
6%
|
| Public subsidy to the private school |
1%
|
| Rights of the foreign residents |
1%
|
| Others/NA |
2%
|
Q23: (To those 46% who answered Yes to the question 21) Do you think the amendment of the Constitution is an urgent problem ?
| Yes |
25%
|
| No |
18%
|
| Others/NA |
3%
|
NOTE: I tried to translate the essence of texts, but not aiming at word-by-word precision. In opinion polls, subtle change of wordings may generate different results. Thus, you should be careful in reading this page, understanding that your impression from the text might not be the same as those of who responded this survey.
