Yomiuri conducted the poll in individual interviews on August 5th
and 6th using a stratified two-stage random sample of 3,000 voters
across the country. 1,741 people, or 58 percent of those selected,
responded.
Key Issues
•
LDP presidential election
•
Quality of life
•
U.S. beef imports
Background
The poll focuses on the September 19th LDP Presidential election
that will decide Prime Minister Koizumi’s successor. The
poll targets voter interest in the election and highlights potential
election issues, such as the continuation of Yasukuni Shrine
visits by the next Prime Minister and Japan’s national
security in light of North Korea’s July missile tests.
The poll also addresses quality of life issues, including the
appearance of neighborhoods
and the effects of a recent revision to Tokyo’s road traffic
law aimed at cracking down on illegal parking violations. Finally,
the poll measures public response to the Government’s July
reopening of its market to U.S. beef imports.
Link to Original Source
Data received directly from Yomiuri Shimbun.
Disclaimer
The Mansfield Foundation is responsible for the translation of
this Yomiuri Simbun poll, subject to the Mansfield
Foundation Terms
of Use
Survey:
Q1 Do you support or not support the Koizumi Cabinet
Support
51.5
Do not support
39.2
Other
2.6
Don't know; No answer
7.1
SQ1 If you answered “support” to Question 1, please
select up to two reasons why you support the cabinet from the list
below.
Positively evaluate its political stance
29
Positively evaluate its policy
14.8
Have a feeling of security
16.8
Can trust the Prime Minister
16.6
Has produced results
39
Because of the LDP-Komeitocoalition
5.7
Better than previous cabinets
37.5
Other
1
Don't know; No answer
0.9
SQ2 If you answered “do not support” to Question 1,
please select up to two reasons why you do not support the cabinet
from the list below.
Negatively evaluate its political stance
39.6
Negatively evaluate its policy
42.5
Do not have a feeling of security
13.2
Cannot trust the Prime Minister
24.2
Has not produced many results
21.4
Because of the LDP-Komeitocoalition
10.9
Worse than previous cabinets
5.9
Other
3.1
Don't know; No answer
1.9
Q2 Which political party do you support now? Please select one.
Positively evaluate its political stance
29
Positively evaluate its policy
14.8
Have a feeling of security
16.8
Can trust the Prime Minister
16.6
Has produced results
39
Because of the LDP-Komeitocoalition
5.7
Better than previous cabinets
37.5
Other
1
Don't know; No answer
0.9
Q3 Prime Minister Koizumi has announced that he will retire as
Prime Minister when his tenure as LDP president expires this
September. The LDP Presidential election that will occur in September
will
essentially
decide the next Prime Minister. Do you or do you not have an
interest in this LDP Presidential election?
Have a great interest
33.1
Have somewhat of an interest
38.6
Do not have much interest
18.8
Have no interest
8.7
Don't know; No answer
0.7
Q4 From the list below, please give the person whom you think
most appropriate to be the next Prime Minister.
AsoTaro
7.4
AbeShinzo
45.2
TanigakiSadakazu
9.2
YamazakiTaku
0.9
Other
2
No appropriate person
30.3
Don't know; No answer
5.1
SQ If there are reasons for your support of this person, please
select all applicable reasons from the list below.
Positively evaluate his political stance
31
Positively evaluate his foreign policy stance
22.2
Positively evaluate his domestic policy
9.7
Has a reformist stance
17.5
Has leadership ability
16.9
Has a sense of balance
18.9
Is youthful
28.5
Feel familiar with
26.4
Other; Don't know; No answer
4.5
Q5 If there are topics that you think should be issues in the
LDP Presidential election, please select all that apply from
the list
below.
Environmental/Employment measures
49.3
Fiscal health
25.9
Consumption tax
37
Pension, medical care and other social insurance system reform
56.9
Child care support and other measures to address the falling
birth rate
26
Education reform
16.7
Reduction of government employees and other administrative
reform
18.8
Income disparity and other inequalities
18.2
Yasukuni Shrine
14.5
Diplomacy withChina,KoreaandAsia
25.4
North Korea
33.1
National defense and security
14.6
Constitutional Revision
9.1
Public safety and crime fighting measures
16.1
Food safety measures
14.5
Other
0.2
No particular issue
3.6
Don't know; No answer
1.3
Q6 Former Cabinet Secretary Fukuda Yasuo announced that he
will not run as a candidate in the LDP Presidential race. Some
suggest
that
the policy debate will be dull because Fukuda will not run.
Do you or do you not think the debate will be so?
Think so
18.6
If anything, think so
18.2
If anything, do not think so
18.1
Do not think so
34.2
Don't know; No answer
11
Q7 During the 2001 LDP Presidential election, Prime Minister
Koizumi made a public promise that he would visit Yasukuni
Shrine and, after
taking office, he has visited every year. Do you approve of
or oppose his initial promise to visit the Yasukuni Shrine
on August
15, the
anniversary of the end of World War II?
Approve
22.9
If anything, approve
20.2
If anything, oppose
19.9
Oppose
28.7
Don't know; No answer
8.4
Q8 Do you approve of or oppose the next Prime Minister visiting
Yasukuni Shrine?
Approve
22.2
If anything, approve
18.2
If anything, oppose
20.2
Oppose
30.1
Don't know; No answer
8.4
Q9 Where do you think is an appropriate place for the country
to memorialize the war dead? Please give one answer from the
following
list.
Yasukuni as it is now
35
Yasukuni, removing the Class A criminals who faced war responsibility
chargesat the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal
24.4
A memorial expanding or developingChidorigafuchiCemetery, whichcontains
the remains of unidentified war dead.
8.1
A newly constructed, national and non-religious memorial to
the war dead
19.2
Other
0.4
Don't know; No answer
12.9
Q10 Some people are of the opinion that Class A war criminals
should be removed from Yasukuni Shrine. Do you agree with or
oppose this
opinion?
Agree
39.8
If anything, agree
21.9
If anything, oppose
11.9
Oppose
12.5
Don't know; No answer
13.8
Q11 A memo by then head of the Imperial Household Agency was
found. It revealed the Showa Emperor's discomfort, at the time,
to the enshrinement
of Class A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine, as well as his
cessation of subsequent visits. Did this information influence
or not influence
your thinking regarding the issue of the Prime Minister's visits
to Yasukuni Shrine?
Had a great influence
11
Had some influence
26.4
Did not have much influence
28.9
Had no influence at all
26.3
Don't know; No answer
7.4
Q12 Based on Japan's proposal, the United Nations Security
Council unanimously adopted a resolution criticizing North
Korea's missile
launch and calling for the freezing of missile launches and
the halting of all missile-related activities. How do you view
the
adoption of
this resolution?
Highly approve
49.3
Approve somewhat highly
37
Do not approve very highly
6.1
Do not approve highly at all
2.6
Don't know; No answer
4.9
Q13 At the Russian hosted G-8 Summit, Members adopted a statement
that included calls for North Korea to its freeze missile launches
and abandon its nuclear development program. Regarding the
recent UN resolution and the G-8 statement, how do you view
the role
the Japanese government played?
Highly approve
31
Approve somewhat highly
46.2
Do not approve very highly
12.6
Do not approve highly at all
3.8
Don't know; No answer
6.4
Q14 The LDP is considering legislation that would restrict
certain financial transactions as a new means of sanctions
against North
Korea. Do think such a new law is necessary?
Think so
55
If anything, think so
24.4
If anything, do not think so
7.6
Do not think so
5.7
Don't know; No answer
7.2
Q15 Do you think Japan should cooperate with America to hasten the
deployment of a missile defense system that can shoot down enemy
missiles?
Think so
38.8
If anything, think so
23.1
If anything, do not think so
15.5
Do not think so
17.6
Don't know; No answer
5.1
Q16 Given North Korea's missile launch, there is an opinion that
in response to a missile attack against Japan, Japan should possess
the capability to attack enemy missile launch sites. Do you think
Japan should possess such a capability?
Think so
21.9
If anything, think so
16.8
If anything, do not think so
21.3
Do not think so
33.8
Don't know; No answer
6.3
Q17 Do you think there are things that are detrimental to the scenery
and streets in the area where you now live? If any, please select
all that apply from the list below.
Apartments and other tall buildings
11.7
Large scale stores
4
Billboards and neon signs
11.3
Fliers, posters and other advertisements
18.9
Power lines and poles
13.7
Street signs
2.9
Poorly maintained roads
18.4
Inadequate clean up of trees that line the street
12.1
Residential cinderblock walls
3
Empty stores and abandoned buildings
20.4
Graffiti
15.4
Other
2.4
Nothing in particular
39.9
Don't know; No answer
0.6
Q18 As a whole, are you satisfied
or dissatisfied with the atmosphere of the area where you currently
live?
Extremely satisfied
22.9
Somewhat satisfied
55.1
A little satisfied
17
Extremely dissatisfied
3.5
Don't know; No answer
1.5
Q19 Do you think that the atmosphere of the area where you live
has recently been getting better or getting worse?
Getting better
14.5
If anything, getting better
40
If anything, getting worse
23.7
Getting worse
6.5
Don't know; No answer
15.3
Q20 Do you or do you not have an interest in the maintenance of
the atmosphere of the area where you live?
Have a great interest
31.9
Have some interest
45.8
Do not have much interest
15.7
Have no interest at all
4.8
Don't know; No answer
1.8
Q21 Do you or do you not think that the local government association
where you live is actively working to make your neighborhood better?
Think so
14.4
If anything, think so
25
If anything, do not think so
29.6
Do not think so
23.6
Don't know; No answer
7.5
Q22 Do you or do you not think that to improve your neighborhood,
regulations on the height and color of buildings should be made
stricter?
Think so
28.4
If anything, think so
29.4
If anything, do not think so
19
Do not think so
18.4
Don't know; No answer
4.9
Q23 To protect the beauty of neighborhoods, there are some regions
where permission from the local government association is necessary
to change the color of a house's roof tiles, walls or gate. Do
you think that you would be able to accept it if the area where
you live had such regulations?
Think so
28.5
If anything, think so
29.9
If anything, do not think so
16.2
Do not think so
20.6
Don't know; No answer
4.8
Q24 To improve the atmosphere and scenery of the Nihonbashi area,
the Tokyo Government is considering a plan to move the expressway
that runs over the bridge to a different location. Do you approve
of or oppose this plan?
Approve
23
If anything, approve
22.1
If anything, oppose
18.8
Oppose
16
Don't know; No answer
20.1
Q25 Do you or do you not think that the local and central governments
should more actively deal with maintaining and preserving neighborhoods
and buildings that are said to be historical assets?
Think so
52.9
If anything, think so
29.8
If anything, do not think so
8
Do not think so
5.1
Don't know; No answer
4.5
Q26 Please give the names of up to three places inside Japan that
come to mind when you hear the words "beautiful streets."
Had one response
65.9
Had two responses
34.4
Had three responses
13.7
No place in particular
28.3
Don't know; No answer
5.7
(Top ten)
Place name
Rank
Responses
Percentage
Kyoto
1
521
29.9
Kurashiki
2
91
5.2
Nara
3
90
5.2
Kanezawa
4
74
4.3
Takayama
5
72
4.1
Sapporo
6
61
3.5
Kobe
7
45
2.6
Hakodate
8
40
2.3
Hagi
9
36
2.1
Okinawa
10
35
2
Kamakura
10
35
2
Sendai
10
35
2
Number of respondents
1148
Number of responses
1985
Q27 The Road Trucking Vehicle Law was recently revised and included
a stricter crackdown on parking violations in June . As best you
can tell, do you or do you not think that the stricter regulations
have led to fewer illegally parked cars ?
Think so
32.7
If anything, think so
29.2
If anything, do not think so
12.3
Do not think so
16
Don't know; No answer
9.6
Q28 With the revision to the Road Trucking Vehicle Law, private
sector “traffic wardens” became able to take action
against parking violations. Do you or do you not think that trusting
the private sector with conducting parking violations was good?
Think it was good
30.6
If anything, think it was good
31.8
If anything, do not think it was good
14
Do not think it was good
15
Don't know; No answer
8.6
Q29 Has the stricter crack down on parking violations given rise
to any changes in your daily life or surroundings? If so, please
select as many as applicable from the list below.
Number of times I use my car has decreased
4.3
I have come to choose stores with parking lots
24.4
I have come to spend money on parking lots
13.7
Has created a hindrance in giving rides to family members
5.6
Number of times I use buses, trains and taxis has increased
4.8
Traffic jams have lessened
11.7
Visibility on roads has improved
16.5
The livelihood of shopping areas has disappeared
6.4
Other
1.1
Nothing in particular; Don't know; No answer
53.6
Q30 Do you think the stricter crack down on parking violations
has had a positive or negative influence on your family's normal
activities overall?
Many positive influences
15.6
If anything, positive influences
36.8
If anything, negative influences
15.6
Many negative influences
5.1
Don't know; No answer
26.9
Q31 The following vehicles are currently subject to the same fines
for parking violations as ordinary vehicles. Do you or do you not
think it best that these vehicles are exempt from additional fines?
S1 Home delivery vehicles
Think best exempted
75.3
Do not think so
12.9
Cannot say
10.7
Don't know; No answer
1
S2 Delivery vehicles that transport merchandise to and from shops
and stores
Think best exempted
69.6
Do not think so
15.7
Cannot say
13.4
Don't know; No answer
1.3
S3 Vehicles used by the elderly or handicapped and vehicles used
for food delivery or pick up services for the elderly or handicapped
Think best exempted
86.6
Do not think so
6.6
Cannot say
5.9
Don't know; No answer
0.9
Q32 What type of measures, other than cracking down on parking
violations, do you think are necessary to reduce the number
of illegally parked vehicles? Please select as many as applicable
from the list below.
Increase the number of parking lots
56.1
Increase the number of parking meters
27.3
Increase the number of parking meters
39.4
Make parking rules applicable to each area's circumstances,
such as rulesthat allow parking for a limited time period
14.1
Limit the entrance of vehicles into city center areas
24.8
Better and increased buses and other public transportation
facilities
9.3
Institute thorough education of traffic rules for drivers
28.5
Other
2.2
Nothing in particular
7.6
Don't know; No answer
1.8
Q33 Do you have a driver's license?
Have
76.5
Do not have
23.3
Don't know; No answer
0.3
SQ If you answered "have" to the previous question, for
what purpose do you usually use your car? Please choose one
of the following.
Mainly for work purposes
25.8
Mainly for commuting to work
20.7
Mainly for personal use
42
Other
0.2
Don't drive much
10.5
Don't know; No answer
0.8
Q34 This question regards imports of American beef. The government
recently decided to reopen the market to U.S. beef imports,
which it had previously halted due to contamination by
exposure to
meat at high-risk for BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).
Do you
support or not support this decision to reopen the market?
Support
19.4
If anything, support
17.5
If anything, do not support
21.5
Do not support
37.7
Don't know; No answer
4
Q35 Do you or do you not feel anxiety regarding the safety
of American beef?
Greatly feel anxiety
46.3
Feel a little anxiety
33.9
Do not feel much anxiety
12.9
Feel no anxiety at all
5.9
Don't know; No answer
1
Q36 Do you want to eat imported American beef right away,
wait a little while and then decide, or not want to eat
it at all?
Want to eat
10.2
Wait a little while and then decide
43.1
Do not want to eat
45
Don't know; No answer
1.7
Q37 Do you or do you not think that it should be made mandatory
to label food served in restaurants and processed food
products with origin stickers?
Think so
76.9
If anything, think so
14.6
If anything, do not think so
2.8
Do not think so
4.3
Don't know; No answer
1.4
Basic Attributes
Region:
Hokkaido/Tohoku
(1 circuit; 6 prefectures)
11.8
Kanto
(1 metropolis; 6 prefectures)
29.1
Chubu
(10 prefectures)
20.1
Kinki
(2 urban prefectures; 4 prefectures)
18
Chukoku/Shikoku
(9 prefectures)
10.3
Kyushu
(8 prefectures)
10.6
Size of City:
Large city
21.4
Major urban area
19.6
Medium-sized city
24.6
Small city
22.6
Town or village
11.8
Figures based on April 1, 2006 classification system.
