Japan-U.S. Relationship 1997

This is a joint face to face survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan and Gallup Organization in the U.S. in January and February, 1997. Japanese results are based on 2,030 respondents from 3,000 sample, while US results come from 1,032 respondents. Proportion of male vs female was 47% : 53% in Japan and 50% : 50% in the US. Following charts are selected questions and answers from the survey.

Do you think current bilateral relations between Japan and the U.S. is good or bad ?
Do you think that United Nations has achieved its role to solve and prevent international conflict for last half century ?
How do you think about the opinion to increase the number of permanent members on the U.N. Security Council ? Choose one.
Do you agree that the U.S. shold take an active role to solve the international conflict in the future ?
Do you think the U.S 'will' (= 'should' for US people) help Japan if it is attacked by other nation ?
If an international conflict involving Japan occurs and the U.S takes military action, what do you think Japan shold do ? Choose one.
Do you think strengthening the Japan-U.S. security treaty will increase tension in Asia or make the region more stable ?
Do you think the military cooperation under the treaty should strengthen, maintain or be closer ?
Do you think the democratization of China will progress with its economy ?
Do you think China will become a threat for your country's security in the future ?
Do you think China will become a threat for your country's economy in the future ?
Which country or region do you think might become a military threat to your country ? Choose as much needed.

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.

Very good	3.8% 5.2%
Good	41.9% 40.8%
Neither	37.0% 40.5%
Bad	12.8% 5.2%
No answer	4.4% 8.3%

Enough achieved	9.0% 8.2%
Fairly achieved	62.3% 60.6%
Not enough	15.9% 17.0%
Almost nothing	3.3% 7.2%
No answer	9.5% 7.1%

Add only Japan	14.2% 5.0%
Add only Germany	1.9% 5.9%
Add Japan and Germany	35.7% 20.1%
Add other countries than Japan or Germany	3.9% 13.6%
Keep current five members	30.0% 36.2%
Others	1.2% 3.1%
No answer	13.1% 16.1%

Agree	33.2% 20.4%
Agree to some extent	38.9% 44.1%
Disagree to some extent	13.8% 15.3%
Disagree	5.5% 15.0%
No answer	8.7% 5.3%

Yes	68.0% 53.3%
No	21.6% 33.0%
No answer	10.4% 13.7%

Self-Defense Forces (SDF) should totally take part in U.S. action	13.8% 46.6%
SDF should take part in U.S. action only within Japanese territory	24.0% 14.0%
Should take only part in non-military aid	34.2% 7.0%
No SDF nor non-military aid, but only financial support	5.6% 9.1%
Should not participate at all	11.5% 6.9%
Others	0.1% 3.5%
No answer	10.8% 12.7%

Make stable	12.0% 11.7%
Rather make stable	30.3% 43.4%
Rather increase tension	28.0% 18.7%
Increase tension	11.6% 4.7%
No answer	18.0% 21.5%

Strengthen	7.0% 30.5%
Maintain current level	56.8% 47.1%
Be closer	28.0% 6.2%
No answer	8.2% 16.2%

Yes	57.1% 27.7%
No	18.5% 51.7%
Cannot tell	19.2% 8.8%
No answer	5.3% 11.8%

Significant threat	18.4% 22.2%
Some threat	45.3% 37.7%
Not so much	22.4% 18.9%
Not at all	4.5% 11.6%
No answer	9.5% 9.7%

Significant threat	32.5% 22.8%
Some threat	41.1% 35.7%
Not so much	16.3% 20.8%
Not at all	3.1% 12.7%
No answer	7.1% 8.0%

Africa	1.2% 5.4%
Ex-Yugoslavia	3.8% 24.4%
Central America	2.2% 7.9%
China	39.1% 40.6%
Eastern Europe	1.1% 5.4%
Middle East	14.1% 49.5%
North Korea	55.0% 22.6%
Russia	34.7% 32.6%
South Asia	2.0% 16.5%
South-East Asia	2.7% 14.3%
USA	13.9% NA
Japan	NA 12.7%
Others	0.6% 0.3%
Not special	10.4% 5.7%
No answer	7.5% 7.2%