Yomiuri Shimbun October 2010 Telephone Public Opinion Poll
Dates Conducted
October 1 – 3, 2010
Methodology
Nationwide telephone survey using the RDD (random digit dialing) method.
Numbers selected for dialing: 4500
Households confirmed with an eligible voter: 1731
Random selection of one eligible voter per household.
Valid responses: 1104 (with 64% response rate)
Key Issues
- Support for the Kan cabinet
- China fishing vessel collision incident
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of this Yomiuri Shimbun poll, subject to the Mansfield Foundation Terms of Use.
Survey
*All numbers are percentages
Q1. Do you support or not support the Kan cabinet?
| Support | 53 |
| Do not support | 37 |
| Other | 6 |
| No answer | 4 |
SQ1. [Those who answered “Support” to Q1 only] Please select one reason from the following six answers for why you support the Kan cabinet:
| Have expectations for their policies | 13 |
| Their aim to have political leadership lead decision-making | 17 |
| The prime minister has leadership qualities | 3 |
| Can trust the prime minister | 16 |
| Members of the cabinet are good | 10 |
| It is not an LDP administration | 33 |
| Other | 5 |
| No answer | 4 |
SQ2. [Those who answered “Do not support” to Q1 only] Please select one reason from the following six answers for why you do not support the Kan cabinet:
| Cannot have expectations for their policies | 24 |
| Cannot have expectations for their aim to have political leadership lead decision-making | 15 |
| The prime minister does not have leadership qualities | 35 |
| Cannot trust the prime minister | 11 |
| Members of the cabinet are not good | 4 |
| It is not an LDP administration | 6 |
| Other | 1 |
| No answer | 5 |
Q2. Which political party do you currently support? Please select one:
| Democratic Party ofJapan | 36 |
| Liberal Democratic Party | 16 |
| NewKomeito | 2 |
| JapanCommunist Party | 2 |
| Social Democratic Party | 1 |
| Your Party | 5 |
| The People’s New Party | 0 |
| SunriseParty ofJapan | 0 |
| The New Party ofJapan | – |
| New Renaissance Party | – |
| Other party | – |
| Do not support any party | 36 |
| No answer | 1 |
Q3. From following list, please select one issue, if any, that you would like the Kan cabinet to prioritize:
| Economic conditions and job security | 34 |
| Social security reform, including pensions and healthcare | 27 |
| Support for child care and countermeasures for declining birthrates | 8 |
| Tax reform such as the issue of the consumption tax | 10 |
| Diplomacy, national defense and security | 14 |
| The problem of money in politics | 7 |
| Other | 0 |
| Nothing in particular | 1 |
| No answer | 1 |
Q6. In regards to the collision of a Chinese fishing vessel in Japanese territorial waters at the Senkaku Islands , prosecutors have decided to release and not press charges against the captain without “planning ahead and taking into consideration the future of Japan-China relations.” Do you think this decision was appropriate or not appropriate?
| Appropriate | 19 |
| Not appropriate | 72 |
| No answer | 9 |
SQ1. [Those who answered “Appropriate” to Q1 only] Please select one reason from the following four answers for why you think the decision was appropriate:
| Should avoid the deterioration of Japan-China relations | 45 |
| Because there will be an impact on the economy | 23 |
| Because Japanese employees have been detained inChina | 17 |
| Because it is not necessary to prosecute | 10 |
| Other | 1 |
| No answer | 4 |
SQ2. [Those who answered “Not appropriate” to Q1 only] Please select one reason from the following four answers for why you think the decision was not appropriate:
| Because it provides the impression thatJapanwill back down if pressure is applied | 41 |
| Will strengthenChina’s sovereignty claims to the islands | 14 |
| Prosecutors should not take into consideration diplomatic relations | 12 |
| Because the malicious incident took place within territorial waters | 30 |
| Other | 0 |
| No answer | 2 |
Q7. In regards to the decision to release the Chinese captain, Prime Minister Kan has stated that “this was a decision made by the prosecution” and there was no political involvement. Do you accept or not accept this explanation?
| Accept | 11 |
| Do not accept | 83 |
| No answer | 7 |
Q8. In response to the incident, China has taken measures such as postponing scheduled talks with the Japanese government and suspended a portion of civilian exchanges, which have had an impact on the economy. Do you think China ’s series of measures went too far or not?
| Went too far | 89 |
| Did not go too far | 7 |
| No answer | 4 |
Q9. Following the release of the Chinese captain, China has requested an apology and compensation from the Japanese. Do you accept or not accept these requests?
| Accept | 3 |
| Do not accept | 94 |
| No answer | 3 |
Q10. Do you think the Japanese government should lay precise claim to the international community that the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory or is it not necessary to do so?
| Should lay precise claim | 90 |
| Not necessary to lay precise claim | 5 |
| No answer | 5 |
Q11. To address issues surrounding the Senkaku Islands in the future, do you think Japan should deepen its alliance with the U.S. or is it not necessary to deepen its alliance?
| Should deepen its alliance with theU.S. | 71 |
| Not necessary to deepen its alliance with theU.S. | 19 |
| No answer | 10 |
Q12. Do you trust or not trust China ? Please choose one from the following four answers:
| Greatly trustChina | 1 |
| Somewhat trustChina | 12 |
| Somewhat do not trustChina | 49 |
| Do not trustChina | 35 |
| No answer | 2 |
Q13. Do you feel anxious or not anxious about the DPJ administration’s foreign and security policies? Please choose one from the following four answers:
| Greatly feel anxious | 39 |
| Somewhat feel anxious | 45 |
| Somewhat do not feel anxious | 11 |
| Do not feel anxious | 3 |
| No answer | 3 |