More People in 6 Nations Place Trust in Japan

March 10, 2018

Tokyoo- The proportion of people who said they can trust Japan increased in each of six countries surveyed from a year before, the Japan Press Research Institute, a private think tank, said Saturday.

The latest survey, conducted between December and January, covered some 1,000 people each from the United States, Britain, France, China, South Korea and Thailand. The previous survey took place in February last year.

Thailand had the highest proportion of respondents who said that they can trust Japan, with 96.2 pct, followed by the United States with 81 pct, France 80.5 pct and Britain 67.8 pct. The proportion was around 20 pct in China and South Korea.

The survey showed that the proportion of people who said they have a favorable opinion of Japan fell slightly in the United States, Britain and France, but rose in China, South Korea and Thailand.

The rise in China and South Korea may have reflected improved relations between Japan and China and an increase in the number of South Korean people who have visited Japan, an official at the institute said.

The survey also asked respondents to name a Japanese person whom they know.

Emperor Hirohito, posthumously called Emperor Showa, was the most named figure in the United States, Britain and France, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe topped the list in China, South Korea and Thailand. Jiji Press