Politics

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.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Japan and America in the age of Trump; part 2 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.

Although the Japanese press on the whole lauded Trump’s overtures to North Korea and made a big thing of the relatives of the Japanese hostages talking to Trump and getting a nice positive soundbite out of it, it was obvious to me that Trump was spouting any old nonsense in an effort to get his ratings. Satisfyingly, the Japanese public seems generally to share similar opinions.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Japan and America in the age of Trump; part 1 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.

I’m slightly surprised at the relatively positive view of many aspects of Trump’s policies, of not at their effects on Japan, but perhaps that is more a reflection of my media consumption. Japanese broadcast media mainly treats him as a normal president; only his more massive gaffes make headlines here.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Japanese rate their government’s response to the coronavirus

This survey was conducted by the Mainichi Newspaper and the Social Survey Research Center into COVID-19 response. I’ve linked to the English version, but hopefully my tables are easier to read.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

The exceptionally poor state of Japan-Korea relations

Japan-Korea relations are going through a bit of a rough patch right now, as this survey into Japan-Korea relations from @Nifty shows.

I’m surprised by quite how negative the outcome is here; my impression is that people are just fed up with Korea rather than what seems to be active dislike; I took my opinion from various television news programs, but perhaps in the interest of balance, and that people are more measured when on TV versus doing a survey in the privacy of their own home I have been misled.

Anyway, here’s a charming poster from Korea about one of the triggers of Japn-Korea animosity.

Dokdo / Takeshima propaganda poster
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Two-thirds of Japanese rate President Trump poorly

This interesting survey from @Nifty looked at international relations, focusing on the most important coutries of China, the two Koreas and the USA.

I share the pessimistic view of Trump and his “successes” with his personal brand, with the China relationship, and with his dearest friend, Kim Jong Un of North Korea. For the average Japanese, though, I think the one thing they know the most about is Trump’s ill-founded remarks on car imports. With zero tariffs I’m sure more cars would be sold, of course, but the figures would still be microscopic as America simply does not build cars Japan either wants or needs in any significant numbers.

The Northern Territories are four islands that were invaded (or liberated, depending on your stand-point) by the Soviet Union between the dropping of the atomic bombs and the surrender of Japan.

The conscripted (or slave, depending again on your point of view) labour from the Korean pensinsula issue is from the average Japanese person’s point of view yet another example of Korea stirring things up with Japan just for the sake of internal politics.

Mr Maniacal, Mr Abhorrent, Mr Meddle (more…)

By Ken Y-N, ago

Women more sceptical about the progress of gender equality


This interesting survey from @nifty looked at gender equality, with a bonus question at the end about same-sex marriage.

I’m for equality in general, of course, but against gender equality in election candidates. More women should be encouraged into politics, but the approach should be more about making it less of a boys club, and adopting sensible hours for conducting business.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Expectations for North Korea and their USA summit

This very timely survey from @Nifty looks at the Korean peninsula situation, and shows Japanese very interested, but little expectation of change.

I too share the general views expressed here; I want something positive to happen, but I’m not sure it will, especially since we are talking about a heartless and corrupt dictator surrounded with sycophants who would be happy to see the destruction of American democracy, and Kim is no better. The summit is turning into no more than a TV spectacle; “maximum pressure” has been dropped from the American lexicon, and rather than expecting results, it is now a “process”, and the summit seems now to be no more than a social get-to-know-you session.

Furthermore, Trump will be coming from a G6+1 meeting where he’ll be actively disliked and out of his depth, so no doubt the Kim side will exploit that with much buttering up and flat-out bribery, as that worked for China. My prediction for an outcome will be the continuation of North Korean claims and apparent actions towards denuclearisation but without inspections, whereas USA will draw down troop numbers in South Korea, a McDonalds in Pyongyang and the renaming of the Trump Ryugyong Hotel.
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Two in three feel constitution doesn’t protect Japan

Perhaps I’m being a bit too free with my interpretation of the figures, but this recent survey from @Nifty into constitutional amendment focusing in particular on Article 9, the clause that renounces war, showed narrow support for revision, which is significantly more for revision than other opinion polls.

From a foreign English-language media point of view, the discussion of constitutional reform focuses almost solely on Article 9, and gives the impression that the new wording of said Article will be that Japan vows to invade China and North Korea at the earliest opportunity. The reality is much, much more interesting, but rubbish like that sells newspapers. And don’t get me started on writers who use the “ultra-nationalist” cliche…

Here’s a nice photo of an Article 9-supporting coffee shop, or something:

Peace-9
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By Ken Y-N, ago

Tokyo

A simple title for this survey from @nifty, a broad look at many issues surrounding Tokyo.

I don’t really know which wards I’ve been to as I’m not sufficiently familar with the geography. Perhaps in the survey there was a short reminder of the main stations or sights in each ward.

I’ve been on just the one bus tour of Tokyo, and the one good place was the Geihinkan, the State Guest House or Akasaka Palace. Getting tickets is a little difficult, so a tour is probably the best way to assure entry.

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By Ken Y-N, ago