Japan and America in the age of Trump; part 3 of 3

This large-scale survey from NHK’s Broadcast Culture Research Centre looked at Japan and America, with particular focus on the current Trump regime. This will be posted over three nights in chunks of around 9 questions each.

The final part of this survey shows further how Japan perceives that America has lost its way, yet Japan still finds the country is it’s best friend.

Interestingly, despite Japan’s Prime Minister being excessively friendly to Trump, the people rate Obama as the greatest post-war president.

Reseach results

Q19: Do you think America should carry out the role of a leader of international society?

Yes	62.6%
No	36.1%
No answer	1.2%

Q20: The Trump government, in order to reduce the trade deficit, has raised tariffs on foreign goods and had applied pressure for concessions sitting trade negotiations. What do you think of this approach?

Good approach	10.3%
Not good approach	88.6%
No answer	1.1%

Q21: The Trump government has changed the approach to limiting Iran’s nuclear development by unilaterally leaving the agreement to remove sanctions made between America and the EU, etc. How do you rate America’s Middle East policies?

Rate them highly	1.3%
Rate to some extent	19.8%
Don’t really rate it	53.2%
Don’t rate it at all	23.9%
No answer	1.9%

Q22: Trump’s government has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement to limit climate change. How do you rate this decision?

Rate it highly	1.3%
Rate to some extent	8.2%
Don’t really rate it	35.0%
Don’t rate it at all	54.3%
No answer	1.2%

Q23: Have you ever been to America?

Yes	32.3%
No	67.2%
No answer	0.5%

Q24: Do you have any American friends or acquaintances?

Yes	13.5%
No	86.0%
No answer	0.5%

Q25: Which of the following impressions do you have of America?

A country with deep guns, drugs, etc problems	76.7%
A country with a wide rich-poor divide	57.4%
A country with serious racism issues	55.3%
A military superpower	52.9%
An economic powerhouse	51.5%
A country that welcomes many viewpoints	49.5%
A country with deep ethnic problems	38.4%
A strongly competitive country	33.1%
A country that produces revolutionary techniques and services	26.2%
A country that produces leading culture and entertainment	21.1%
A country that guarantees freedom and equality	20.1%
A peaceful country	2.5%
None of the above	0.9%
No answer	0.8%

Q26: Who do you rate as the best post-war American president?

Truman	0.4%
Eisenhower	2.2%
Kennedy	16.7%
Johnson	0.3%
Nixon	1.0%
Ford	0.0%
Carter	2.0%
Reagan	10.8%
Bush (father)	1.6%
Clinton	3.5%
Bush (son)	1.6%
Obama	54.4%
Trump	1.6%
No answer	3.9%

Q27: How friendly do you feel towards the following countries?

Q27A: America

Very friendly	12.9%
Quite friendly	59.1%
Not really friendly	19.5%
Not friendly at all	6.4%
No answer	2.0%

Q27B: China

Very friendly	1.6%
Quite friendly	20.0%
Not really friendly	44.2%
Not friendly at all	31.4%
No answer	2.7%

Q27C: South Korea

Very friendly	3.7%
Quite friendly	25.6%
Not really friendly	33.8%
Not friendly at all	34.2%
No answer	2.7%

Q27D: Russia

Very friendly	0.4%
Quite friendly	8.2%
Not really friendly	46.4%
Not friendly at all	42.1%
No answer	2.9%

Q27E: India

Very friendly	2.7%
Quite friendly	26.6%
Not really friendly	43.1%
Not friendly at all	25.7%
No answer	2.9%

Q27F: European Union

Very friendly	5.1%
Quite friendly	40.8%
Not really friendly	34.0%
Not friendly at all	16.6%
No answer	3.5%

Q28: Do you support the Abe cabinet?

Yes	45.7%
No	51.7%
Don’t know, no answer	2.6%

Demographics

Between that 13th of February and the 23rd of March 2020 3,600 people of the age of 18 were selected at random from resident registers all over the country to receive the survey via post. 2,195 people, or 61.0%, sent back completed surveys. The sample consisted of 45.3% male and 54.7% female, 9.4% between 18 and 29 years old, 10.0% in their thirties, 14.9% in their forties, 16.5% in their fifties 18.7% in their sixties, and 30.4% aged seventy or older.