世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]

Although Observing Japan beat me to the punch by already presented extracts from this survey, I will, as is my wont, present the full results of a look by the Cabinet Office Japan at the SDF and defense.

Demographics

Between the 15th and 25th of January 2009 1,781 randomly selected members of the public aged 20 or older completed a face-to-face survey. Initially, 3,000 people were selected, but 40.6%, or 1,219 people, did not take part due to having moved, not being in, refusing, etc. Of those who took part, 52.0% were female, 8.5% in their twenties, 13.9% in their thirties, 16.0% in their forties, 20.6% in their fifties, 23.0% in their sixties, and 18.0% aged seventy or older. 27.5% lived near a military facility, 69.5% did not, and 3.1% didn’t know. However, the definition of “near” was not given.

The SDF, or Self-Defense Force, is the Japanese not-really-a-military-honest force that defends these shores and occasionally forays further afield, such as spending a couple of years hiding in their barracks in Iraq.

Part two of this survey is surprising to me in that a majority of people favour the overseas dispatch of Japanese forces. I would like to have seen a question on why people approve of the anti-piracy mission in Q8; is it to increase Japan’s standing in the UN, that a few boats don’t pose a real threat to a destroyer or two, or what?

Research results

Q6: What impression do you have of the SDF assisting at large-scale disasters in Japan? (Sample size=1,781)

Very effective	36.8%
Effective to some degree	54.8%
Not very effective	4.7%
Not effective at all	0.7%
Don’t know	3.0%

Q7: What do you think about the SDF being dispatched overseas to provide emergency aid at large-scale disasters, etc? (Sample size=1,781)

Agree	54.2%
Perhaps agree	34.4%
Perhaps oppose	6.2%
Oppose	2.3%
Don’t know	3.0%

Q8: Do you think the SDF should be getting involved in addressing the international problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden? (Sample size=1,781)

Should be involved	27.8%
Perhaps should be involved	35.3%
Perhaps doesn’t need to be involved	20.7%
Doesn’t need to be involved	8.4%
Other	0.7%
Don’t know	7.0%

Q9: Have you ever seen or heard a recruitment advertisement for the SDF? (Sample size=1,781)

Yes (to SQ)	84.4%
No	15.6%

Q9SQ: What kinds of recruitment advertisement for the SDF have you seen or heard? (Sample size=1,504, multiple answer)

Newspaper advertisement	20.8%
Magazine advertisement	6.6%
Internet, mobile phone advertisement	1.9%
Television advertisement	14.2%
Radio advertisement	2.8%
Video advertisement	0.7%
Poster advertisement	65.6%
Illuminated billboard advertisement	1.4%
Standing placard	29.0%
Hanging banner	3.1%
Pamphlet, leaflet, handbill advertisement	11.8%
Local government information publication advertisement	28.3%
From friends, family, relatives	7.8%
From local government official	3.9%
Other	2.7%
Don’t remember	0.7%
Don’t know	0.1%

Q10: Would you approve or disapprove if someone close to you were to say they wanted to join the SDF? (Sample size=1,781)

Approve (to SQ1)	31.7%
Perhaps approve (to SQ1)	33.0%
Perhaps disapprove(to SQ2)	16.2%
Disapprove (to SQ2)	7.7%
Can’t say either way	9.4%
Don’t know	2.0%

Q10SQ1: Why would you approve? (Sample size=1,152, multiple answer)

Because protecting Japan’s peace and independence is praiseworthy work	51.7%
Because it’s work that contributes towards international security	43.4%
Because it’s an admirable job	41.3%
Because group activites builds an upstanding character	28.2%
Because being a public servant is a steady job	27.5%
Because salary, benefits are good	11.2%
Because learning various skills will be useful for the future	26.4%
Because I have relatives who are in the SDF	4.5%
Because it would be a problem if there wasn’t an SDF	18.8%
Other	5.6%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q10SQ2: Why would you disapprove? (Sample size=426, multiple answer)

Because it’s a dangerous job if there was a war, etc	69.5%
Because I don’t think society rates the SDF very highly	16.4%
Because it’s a tough job	22.5%
Because you have to move around	6.1%
Because of limited length of employment the future is a concern	5.4%
Because it has early retirement	3.3%
Because salary, benefits are poor	2.3%
Because the SDF is separate from ordinary society, one loses one’s adaptability	14.8%
Because I don’t really know the actual circumstances surrounding the SDF	39.4%
Because I don’t feel the need for the SDF	5.9%
Other	2.6%
Don’t know	0.7%

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]