The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned research agencies to conduct an opinion poll on the impression of Japan in the United States, five European countries (France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the UK), four Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), and seven Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the UAE) from October 2024 to January 2025. The results of the poll are as follows.
The United States of America
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned the Harris Poll (a U.S. company) to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in the United States from November 2024 to January 2025. The poll consists of the “General Population” survey and the “Opinion Leaders” survey. In the former, 1,000 adults chosen at random were surveyed online. In the latter, 206 leaders in the federal government, large businesses, news media, organized labor unions, religious organizations, and academia were surveyed online.
(1) The Relationship between Japan and the United States
(a) On the relationship between Japan and the United States, 78% (FY 2023: 75%) of the respondents in the “General Population” survey and 96% (FY 2023: 87%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that it is “friendly.”
(b) On the reliability of Japan as a partner of the U.S., 77% (FY 2023: 73%) of the respondents in the “General Population” survey and 97% (FY 2023: 88%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that it is “reliable.”
(c) As the answer to the question about the most important partner of the United States, Japan ranks 1st (FY2023: 1st) among the countries or regions in Asia, in the “Opinion Leaders” survey.
(2) Security
(a) On the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, 74% (FY 2023: 72%) of the respondents in the “General Population” survey and 81% (FY2023: 79%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that the United States should “maintain” it.
(b) On the treaty, 96% (FY 2023: 93%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that it is “important for the security of the U.S.”
(c) On the treaty, 94% (FY 2023: 91%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that it “contributes to peace and stability in East Asia.”
(d) On the U.S. Forces in Japan, 94% (FY 2023: 91%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that it is “important for the security of the U.S.”
(e) On the Japan’s self-defense capability, 33% (FY 2023: 29%) of the respondents in the “General Population” survey and 45% (FY 2023: 36%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that “Japan should increase it”. Another 34% (FY 2023: 38%) of the respondents in the “General Population” survey and 35% (FY 2023: 46%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that “Japan should maintain the current level.”
(3) Economy
(a) The majority of the respondents in the “General Population” survey answered that Japan has a “positive” influence on the U.S. economy (Trade: 69%, Investment: 59%, Job Creation: 53%) (FY 2023: Trade: 68%, Investment: 59%, Job Creation: 50%).
(b) In the “Opinion Leaders” survey, Japan was ranked at the top contributor to the U.S. economy (Trade: 1st, Investment: 1st, Job Creation: 1st) (FY 2023: Trade: 1st, Investment: 1st, Job Creation: 1st).
(4) “Free and open Indo-Pacific”
On the efforts of Japan and the United States toward realizing a “free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, 77% (FY 2023: 72%) of the respondents in the “Opinion Leaders” survey answered that “Japan and the United States should advance them”.
Five European countries (France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the UK)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Ipsos to conduct an online opinion poll in five countries in Europe (France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the United Kingdom) with a total of 2500 respondents (500 respondents per country) aged from 18 to 69 from October to November 2024. (Note: The last opinion poll conducted in the same five countries in 2022.)
(1) Relations with Japan
On their country’s relations with Japan, 71% (previous survey: 68%) of the respondents answered “very friendly relationship” or “somewhat friendly”. On the reliability of Japan, 74% (previous survey: 69%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable”.
(2) Japan as a Peace-Loving Nation
On Japan as a peace-loving nation, 80% (previous survey: 75%) of the respondents answered that they valued Japan’s path as a peace-loving nation.
(3) Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy
On Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy, 71% (previous survey: 67%) of the respondents answered “Japan plays a very important role” or “Japan plays a somewhat important role”.
(4) Japan’s role in stability of international order
On Japan's role in the stability of international order, 60% (previous survey: 58%) of the respondents answered “Japan plays a very important role” or “Japan plays a somewhat important role”.
(5) Partner outside the region to strengthen cooperation
On a country outside Europe with which Europe should strengthen its partnership under the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and with consideration for the various challenges regarding international relations, Japan ranked second after the United States.
Four Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Ipsos to conduct an opinion poll in four countries in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) with a total of 1200 respondents (300 respondents per country) aged from 18 to 69 through online (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) and telephone interview (Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan) from October to December 2024. (The last opinion poll was conducted in 2021 in the same four countries as in this year.)
(1) Relations with Japan
On their country’s relations with Japan, 88% (previous survey: 78%) of the respondents answered “very friendly relationship” or “somewhat friendly”. On the reliability of Japan, 86% (previous survey: 75%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable”.
(2) Japan as a Peace-Loving Nation
On Japan as a peace-loving nation, 81% (previous survey: 78%) of the respondents answered that they valued Japan’s path as a peace-loving nation.
(3) Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy
On Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy, 75% (previous survey: 79%) of the respondents answered “Japan plays a very important role” or “Japan plays a somewhat important role”.
(4) Japan’s role in stability of international order
On Japan's role in the stability of international order, 67% (previous survey: 59%) of the respondents answered “Japan plays a very important role” or “Japan plays a somewhat important role”.
(5) Important countries/organizations in the future
On a partner country/organization in the future (multiple answers allowed), Japan ranked fourth after Russia, China and Turkey.
Seven Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the UAE)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan commissioned Ipsos to conduct an opinion poll on the image of Japan in seven countries in the Middle East (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates) from October to December 2024 with 4,000 respondents aged from 18 to 69 through telephone interview.
(1) Relations with Japan
On their country’s relations with Japan, 78% (previous survey: 76%) of the respondents answered “very friendly relationship” or “somewhat friendly”. On the reliability of Japan, 75% (previous survey: 74%) of the respondents answered “very reliable” or “somewhat reliable”.
(2) Japan as a Peace-Loving Nation
On Japan as a peace-loving nation, 81% (previous survey: 80%) of the respondents answered that they valued Japan’s path as a peace-loving nation.
(3) Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy
On Japan’s role in stabilization and growth of world economy, 79% (previous survey: 81%) of the respondents answered “a very important role” or “somewhat important role”.
(4) Japan’s role in stability of international order
On Japan's role in the stability of international order, 69% (previous survey: 74%) of the respondents answered “Japan plays a very important role” or “Japan plays a somewhat important role”.
(5) Japan’s economic and technological cooperation
On the benefit of Japan’s economic and technical cooperation for the development of the Middle East region, 84% (previous survey: 86%) of the respondents answered “very beneficial” or “somewhat beneficial”.