世論 What Japan Thinks

With the G8 summit starting next week and most of Japan in lock-down mode, it is quite timely to look at this survey from goo Research, conducted in conjunction with the Yomiuri Shimbun (their 84th joint survey, just in case you’re interested), into the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit.

Demographics

In the middle of June 1,088 members of the goo Research online monitor panel aged 18 or over completed an internet-based questionnaire. No further demographic information was provided.

There is definitely an over-the-top police visibility even here in Kansai, well away from the venue; even though we had foreign minister and environment minister meetings here last month, if anything the policing has got more visible since they finished. I don’t share “The sky is falling!” panic that many fellow foreigners (and ex-foreigners) are in, and I’m glad that they are being strict at immigration regarding the anti-G8 demonstrators with their worthless press credentials handed out by the organisers of anti-G8 protests.

Research results

Q1: How interested are you in the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit? (Sample size=1,088)

Very interested	12%
Quite interested	45%
Not very interested	28%
Not at all interested	12%
Don’t know	3%

Q2: What issues would you like to see addressed at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit? (Sample size=1,088, multiple answer)

Global warming and other environmental issues	69%
Oil, petrol price rises	66%
World food stock crisis issues	52%
Cereals, grains, other staple price rises causing food, other item price rises	50%
Nuclear weapons and other world security issues	27%
Famine in Asia, Africa and other developing nations	24%
Sub-prime loans problem and other financial topics	19%
Other	1%
Nothing in particular	5%
Don’t know	3%

Q3: Which countries would you like to see as new members of the G8? (Sample size=1,088, multiple answer)

China	62%
India	40%
Australia	28%
Brazil	15%
South Korea	14%
South Africa	12%
Holland	4%
Spain	3%
Mexico	2%
Other	1%
No particular country that should be invited	16%