Yomiuri Shimbun May 2007 Opinion Poll

Dates Conducted

May 19 and 20, 2007

Methodology

Yomiuri conducted the poll in individual interviews on May 19 and 20, using a stratified two-stage random sample of 3,000 voters in 250 different locations. 1,803 people, or 60.1% of those selected, responded.

Key Issues

• Support for Prime Minister Abe, his policies and his leadership
• Constitution reform
• Baseball scholarships
• Climate change and environmental challenges
• Participation in “green” purchasing and other conservation practices
• Employment and work issues

Disclaimer

The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Yomiuri poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.

 

Survey

Q1. Do you support or not support the Abe cabinet?

Support	49.6% (43.8)
Do not support	36.8% (43.9)
Other	3.5% (4.4)
Do not know; No answer	10.1% (7.9)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

SQ1. [Those who answered “support” to Q1 only]

Please select up to two reasons from the list below of why you support the Abe cabinet:

Positively evaluate its political stance	33.4% (27.4)
Feel that it is stable	14.9% (9.2)
Can trust the Prime Minister	23.2% (27.6)
Have a fresh image of the Prime Minister	40.2% (43.4)
Can support its economic policies	6.2% (4.3)
Can support its foreign policy	15.2% (15.1)
The coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and theKomeitoParty	10.7% (10.2)
It is better than previous cabinets	10.1% (10.4)
Other; Do not know; No answer	4.8% (3.9)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

SQ2. [Those who answered “do not support” to Q1 only]

Please select up to two reasons from the list below of why you do not support the Abe cabinet:

Cannot positively evaluate its political stance	43.1% (44.4)
Do not feel that the cabinet is stable	24.9% (32.0)
Cannot trust the Prime Minister	25.2% (27.3)
The Prime Minister’s political experience is lacking	16.7% (16.6)
Cannot support the administration’s economic policies	21.9% (19.3)
Cannot support the administration’s foreign policy	13.9% (10.7)
The coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and theKomeitoParty	14.2% (8.6)
The current cabinet is worse than the previous ones	7.5% (10.7)
Other; Do not know; No answer	3.8% (3.9)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

Q2. From list below, please select all applicable issues you would like the Abe cabinet to prioritize and address:

Economic conditions/job security	51.1% (50.0)
Fiscal reconstruction	19.2% (20.7)
Tax reform and the issue of the consumption tax	27.4% (30.0)
Social security reform, including pensions and healthcare	59.5% (61.0)
Support for child care and countermeasures for declining birthrates	29.0% (30.6)
Education reform	24.8% (24.1)
Administrative reform, such as cutting back the number of government employees	17.6% (17.8)
Problems of income disparities	27.2% (26.9)
YasukuniShrine issue	8.4% (6.0)
Foreign policy toward Asia, including China and South Korea	15.0% (17.6)
Issues with North Korea	29.4% (33.3)
National defense and security	13.9% (12.7)
Constitution reform	11.5% (7.2)
Disaster prevention and crisis management	11.0% (9.0)
Public safety and crime prevention	26.6% (18.4)
Environmental protection	21.9% (18.4)
Food safety	15.0% (13.2)
Other; Nothing special; Do not know; No answer	2.8% (2.8)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

Q3. Which political party do you support right now? Please select one:

Liberal Democratic Party	38.5% (36.4)
Democratic Party of Japan	11.1% (11.3)
NewKomeitoParty	3.3% (2.1)
Japan Communist Party	1.8% (1.8)
Social Democratic Party of Japan	0.9% (0.7)
The New People’s Party	0.3% (0.1)
The New Party Nippon	0.1% (0.1)
Others	—– (—–)
Do not support any party	42.4% (46.0)
Do not know; No answer	1.6% (1.5)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

Q4. Elections will be held for the House of Councilors this summer. Which party’s candidate will you support in the proportional-representation block for this election? Please select one from the list:

Liberal Democratic Party	33.9 (32.2)
Democratic Party of Japan	14.1 (14.5)
NewKomeitoParty	3.3 (2.5)
Japan Communist Party	1.7 (2.4)
Social Democratic Party of Japan	0.9 (1.1)
The New People’s Party	0.4 (0.2)
The New Party Nippon	0.1 (0.2)
Others	—–(—–)
Have not decided	44.3 (45.6)
Do not know; No answer	1.2 (1.3)

  Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

Q5. Regarding your impressions of Prime Minister Abe, please select the conclusion that is closest to your impression for the following two qualities:

S1. Ability to follow through

Has followed through as promised with results	30.1% (19.5)
Not as impressive as he looked, and has shown few results	59.1% (71.9)
Do not know; No answer	10.8% (8.7)

 

S2. Leadership

Is providing leadership	26.3% (16.1)
Is not providing leadership	64.8% (77.5)
Do not know; No answer	8.8% (6.3)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

Q6. The National Referendum Act, which stipulates specific procedures for constitutional reform, has been passed by the Diet. Do you evaluate this positively, or not?

Very positive	20.1%
Somewhat positive	36.6%
Not very positive	22.3%
Not positive at all	11.5%
Do not know; No answer	9.5%

Q7. The National Referendum Act will come into force three years from now, so a vote by the public on constitutional reform would occur in 2010 or later. Do you think that the political parties should discuss the Constitution more actively, or not?

Yes	56.2%
Somewhat	22.8%
Not really	8.0%
Not at all	6.4%
Do not know; No answer	6.6%

Q8. According to the National Referendum Act, anyone over the age of 18 can vote on constitutional reform. However, absent a change in the rule, the voting age for regular elections is 20. Do you think that the voting age should be 18, or do you think that it should be 20?

18	30.4%
20	52.7%
Cannot say	14.6%
Do not know; No answer	2.2%

 

Q9. It has been revealed that more than 400 high schools across the country have established a “scholarship system,” under which tuition fees are waived for members of the baseball team. Many high-school sports, including soccer and track and field, allow scholarships, but the provisions of the Japan Student Baseball Charter ban scholarships for baseball. Do you think that the Japan Student Baseball Charter should be reformed to allow for scholarships, or not?

Yes	60.1%
Somewhat in favor	19.8%
Somewhat against	5.7%
No	9.5%
Do not know; No answer	4.9%

Q10. Overall, do you positively evaluate the steps taken by the Japan High School Baseball Federation to address the scholarship issue in high school baseball, or not?

Very positively	7.5%
Somewhat positively	18.2%
Not very positively	33.4%
Not at all positively	31.6%
Do not know; No answer	9.3%

Q11. In a practice known as “baseball study abroad,” high school baseball players are granted admission to schools with highly competitive teams, even if the school is outside their prefecture of residence. As a result, on some teams, more than 50 percent of the players come from outside of the prefecture. Do you think that certain limits on “baseball study abroad” are necessary, or do you think that things are fine as they stand now?

Limits are necessary	46.3%
Things are fine as they stand now	34.8%
Cannot say	16.3%
Do not know; No answer	2.6%

 

The Environment

Q12. From the following list, which changes in the environment, if any, do you especially worry about on a daily basis?

Global warming caused by increasing carbon dioxide from the consumption of oil and coal	70.9% (62.4)
Destruction of the ozone layer caused by chlorofluorocarbon gas in the atmosphere	47.4% (46.0)
Pollution of rivers, lakes, wetlands and the ocean caused by wastewater from households, factories and oil tankers	40.5% (40.8)
Radioactive pollution from accidents and incidents at nuclear power plants	36.8% (39.1)
Desiccation of forests and acidification of lakes due to acid rain	34.0% (32.0)
Fewer natural resources due to excessive logging in tropical forests	39.0% (31.8)
Fewer wild animals due to destruction of the natural environment	33.9% (29.4)
Pollution of the environment by dioxin and other chemical substances	43.0% (48.7)
Other	0.6% (0.5)
Nothing special; Do not know; No answer	4.7% (5.8)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2004

Q13. It is said that as global warming progresses, the environment will be impacted in many ways. From the following list, which item, if any, concerns you in particular? Please select as many as you like:

Worsening life environment due to more frequent heat waves, floods and cold snaps	71.8% (72.5)
More areas prone to flooding by rising sea levels	51.2% (43.1)
Changes in the ocean’s ecosystem adversely impacting fishing	41.2% (33.7)
Lower agricultural yields due to more frequent localized torrential rains and droughts	52.2% (49.8)
Changes in arable land due to spreading desertification	38.5% (29.5)
Fewer wild animals and plants due to their inability to adapt to climate change	35.2% (30.1)
Other	0.3% (0.2)
Nothing in particular	3.1% (5.3)
Do not know; No answer	1.2% (0.5)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2004

 

Q14. Do you think that the Abe Cabinet has been proactive in developing measures to address global warming, or not?

Yes	7.8%
Somewhat	19.7%
Not really	31.3%
No	33.7%
Do not know; No answer	7.4%

Q15. In 1997, the nations of the world gathered in Kyoto in an effort to prevent global warming, and signed the Kyoto Protocol, which set targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, the United States, the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, is not a party to the Kyoto Protocol, and the world’s second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, China, is not required to reduce its emissions. Do you think that Japan should be more forceful in its diplomatic efforts to persuade these countries to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases, or not?

Yes	75.3%
Somewhat	16.7%
Not really	3.0%
No	1.7%
Do not know; No answer	3.3%

Q16. Do you think that if each individual were concerned about global warming and acted accordingly, we might be effective in preventing the problem, or not?

Very effective	58.0%
Somewhat effective	30.9%
Not very effective	8.5%
Not effective at all	1.5%
Do not know; No answer	1.1%

Q17. In your daily life, what do you do, or what do you pay special attention to, if anything, to help prevent global warming? Please select as many as you like from the following list:

Conserving energy by being careful to turn off lights, air conditioning and heating, and by pulling plugs out of wall sockets [when not in use]	67.7%
Being careful not to leave tap water running	69.9%
Using a car less often, and turning off the motor rather than letting it idle	30.6%
Using energy-conserving household appliances	31.1%
Learning about the environment, global warming and other issues	12.1%
Participating in environmental protection activities, such as “adopting” carbon dioxide-absorbing forests	3.7%
Other	1.2%
Nothing in particular	9.4%
Do not know; No answer	0.3%

 

Q18. Are you in favor, or opposed, to a so-called “environmental tax,” which would reduce carbon dioxide and preserve green areas by establishing a new national or local tax, and allocating the tax revenue toward environmental countermeasures, such as preventing warming and planting forests?

In favor	41.8% (44.6)
Opposed	29.7% (28.2)
Cannot answer	26.8% (26.0)
Do not know; No answer	1.8% (1.2)

Q19. There is a trend toward using bioethanol, a fuel produced from sugar cane, corn and other plants that reportedly does not increase levels of carbon dioxide, which is a cause of global warming. Do you want to use bioethanol to fuel your car, or not?

Yes	38.8%
Somewhat	27.8%
Not really	10.4%
No	11.2%
Do not know; No answer	11.9%

 

Q20. Some products are marketed as being environmentally friendly, because they use less energy. To what extent do you consider this when you shop? Please select one from the following list:

I choose environmentally-friendly products, even if they are somewhat more expensive	16.6% (18.4)
I choose environmentally-friendly products if the price is similar [to other products]	65.7% (61.9)
I don’t really consider whether products are environmentally friendly	15.0% (17.9)
Other	0.1% (0.2)
Do not know; No answer	2.6% (1.7)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in October 2004

 

Q21. When you shop in supermarkets and convenience stores, do you decline the shopping bags provided at the register and bring your own with you, or not?

Always	23.1%
Sometimes	26.1%
No	49.6%
Do not know; No answer	1.2%

 

SQ [Those who answered “sometimes” or “no” to Q21 only]

Do you intend to bring your own shopping bag to the store more frequently, or not?

Yes	42.9%
Maybe	28.4%
Probably not	10.3%
No	16.6%
Do not know; No answer	1.8%

 

Q22. Recently, a new trend called “eco-buying” has appeared. Eco-buying consumers purchase the food products that are closest to the expiration date, in order to reduce the amount of leftover food products that the store throws out. Do you shop this way, would you like to try doing so, or do you not want to try it?

I do [shop this way]	23.2%
I would like to try it	36.1%
I do not want to try it	36.3%
Do not know; no answer	4.4%

 

Labor administration and views on work

Q23. From each of the following pairs of statements, please select the one that is closest to your view on work. If you do not work, please imagine that you do, and select accordingly.

It is best to continue to work at one company	59.0%
I would not mind taking a different job	38.3%

 

I would like to work in a position that entails responsibility	76.9%
I would like to work in a position that entails no responsibility	19.2%

 

Promotions should be based on age and seniority	30.4%
Promotions should be based on ability and achievements unrelated to age and seniority	65.4%

 

Do not know; No answer

1.9%

 

Q24. If you were to choose a job and a profession now, what conditions would you consider to  be important? Please select all that apply, if any, from the following list:

A stable job with no fear of unemployment	59.6% (50.7)
A high-income job	37.4% (27.9)
A job that allows for plentiful free time away from the workplace	42.0% (30.0)
A job that contributes to society	23.6% (18.0)
A job that is considered prestigious	13.8% (9.0)
A job that allows me to use my talents and abilities	51.1% (42.1)
A job that is interesting and worth doing	57.9% (53.4)
A job that is safe and does not damage my health	34.4% (25.9)
Other	0.3% (0.2)
Nothing in particular; Do not know; No answer	2.3% (2.6)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in July 2005

Q25. Do you feel anxious about your current or future work situation, and that of your family, or not?

Very anxious	27.6% (24.6)
Somewhat anxious	44.0% (46.9)
Not very anxious	18.0% (21.9)
Not at all anxious	8.9% (5.5)
Do not know, No answer	1.4% (1.1)

 

Q26. Do you think it is good that employment categories besides full-time employees—such as temporary workers, contractors and part-time and casual workers—are becoming increasingly diverse, or not?

Good	23.0%
Somewhat good	20.5%
Not very good	26.5%
Not good	23.6%
Do not know; No answer	6.5%

 

Q27. There is a widening wage gap between full-time employees on the one hand, and part-time, contract and casual workers on the other. Do you think that this gap will continue to widen, or not?

Yes	46.9%
Probably	27.0%
Probably not	10.9%
No	8.7%
Do not know; No answer	6.5%

 

Q28. When contract, part-time and casual workers do the same work as a full-time employee, do you think that they should receive the same level of pay, or not?

Yes	50.3%
Probably	23.3%
Probably not	11.3%
No	11.5%
Don’t know, no answer	3.5%

 

Q29. The Abe Cabinet has developed a so-called “second-chance support policy” in order to help people who work on a part-time or casual basis to find a stable occupation, and to narrow the wage gap between full-time employees and part-time or other employees. Do you think that this “second-chance support policy” is promising, or not?

Very promising	7.8%
Somewhat promising	31.3%
Not very promising	39.0%
Not at all promising	15.6%
Do not know; No answer	6.2%

 

Q30. What is your general impression of “full-time corporate employees”? Choose all that apply from the following list:

Wages are stable	71.0%
Considered trustworthy by society	44.0%
Benefits are plentiful	49.6%
Promotions are possible with seniority	21.9%
Pressed to achieve work assignments	25.1%
Self-sacrifice for the sake of family and company	30.2%
Competition to succeed is fierce	18.5%
Long overtime hours	33.9%
Other	0.2%
Nothing in particular; Do not know; No answer	3.8%

 

Q31. Thirty percent of recent college graduates resign within three years of being hired by a company. This tendency of young people to quit after a short period of employment has become an issue. What factors do you think are behind this trend? From the following list, please select all that apply, if any:

Many people lack perseverance	63.2%
Many people have a positive view on switching jobs	28.5%
Few people think of their work as a way to better themselves	27.0%
Seniority-based corporate compensation systems remain in place	14.5%
Many people are not very socially adaptable	51.4%
There are not many jobs that allow young people to use their capabilities	18.8%
With the spread of information technology, corporations expect highly capable young people	14.3%
Other	2.6%
Nothing in particular	2.6%
Do not know; No answer	2.1%

 

Q32. Suppose your supervisor at work told you to do the following things. What do you think you would do? If you do not work in a company, please imagine that you do.

S1. It is past quitting time and you have something to attend to outside of work, but your supervisor asks you to work overtime. Would you agree to put in extra hours, or would you refuse to do so?

Work overtime	67.2%
Refuse	26.3%
Do not know; No answer	6.5%

 

S2. You have just purchased a house when your supervisor privately asks you whether you would be willing to relocate for work. Would you agree to relocate, or would you refuse?

Agree	39.8%
Refuse	50.1%
Do not know; No answer	10.1%

 

Q33. From the following list, which category describes the work you do now? Please select one:

Self-employed (agriculture/forestry/fishing, business/industry/service)	12.8% (14.7)
National or local civil servant	4.4% (3.8)
Full-time employee of a company or business	25.2% (27.2)
Temporary or provisional employee, temporary worker, casual worker, etc.	6.2% (4.9)
Housewife (including part-time)	30.2% (29.4)
Student	2.2% (2.1)
Unemployed (looking for work)	1.2% (1.3)
Unemployed (retired, not working)	17.2% (16.3)
Other	—–(—–)
Do not know; No answer	0.6% (0.3)

Figures in parentheses are results from polls conducted in March 2007

 

SQ (52) [Those who answered self-employed; national or local civil servant; full-time employee of a company or business or temporary or provisional employee; or temporary worker, causal worker, etc. above]

Which describe(s) your anxiety or troubles, if any, at your current job? Please select as many as you like from the following list:

Low income with no raises	41.5%
Difficult interpersonal relations	5.9%
Long work hours and not enough time off	26.7%
Too much work	24.7%
My work is not fully appreciated	11.5%
Anxiety about the future and stability of my company or industry	28.9%
Uncertainty over how long I will be allowed to continue working	12.2%
Other	0.8%
Nothing in particular; Do not know; No answer	21.6%

 

Fundamental Characteristics of Survey Sample

Regional Distribution

Hokkaido, Tohoku	11.3%
Kanto	28.7%
Chubu	19.3%
Kinki	19.3%
Chugoku, Shikoku	10.1%
Kyushu	11.3%

 

City Scale

Large metropolitan areas (Tokyo’s 23 wards and ordinance-designated cities)	22.5%
Large mid-sized cities (cities with population over 300,000)	19.0%
Mid-sized cities (cities with population over 100,000)	24.3%
Small cities (cities with population under 100,000)	22.9%
Towns and villages	11.4%

The scale is based on the standards set up as of March 12, 2007

 

Gender Distribution

Male	45.7%
Female	54.3%

 

Age Distribution (in years)

20-24	5.3%
25-29	5.3%
30-34	6.5%
35-39	7.5%
40-44	7.7%
45-49	8.4%
50-54	7.7%
55-59	13.6%
60-69	21.6%
Over 70 years old	16.4%

 

Educational Background

Middle School	14.9%
High School	47.9%
College/Junior College	36.4%
Do not know; No answer	0.8%

 

Occupational Background

Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing	2.7%
Business/Industry/Service	8.6%
Self-employed	1.4%
Management/Professional	5.7%
Office worker/Skill industry	17.0%
Labor/Service	20.7%
Housewife	22.6%
Domestic woman other than a housewife	5.3%
Student	2.2%
Other; Unemployed; No answer	13.7%

 

Household Annual Income (in Japanese yen)

Below 2 million	11.4%
Between 2 and 4 million	21.8%
Between 4 and 6 million	21.2%
Between 6 and 8 million	14.3%
Between 8 and 10 million	7.4%
Over 10 million	5.9%
Do not know; No answer	18.0%