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Part 2 Outline of Survey Results VI Nation and Society

VI Nation and Society

1. View on Your Nation

(1) Something to be proud of about your country
Q36 Do you think your country has something to be proud of? If so, please select all applicable answers. (multiple answers)
  1. History and cultural heritage
  2. Nature and natural resources of the country
  3. Culture and art
  4. Religion
  5. Sports
  6. Science and technology
  7. Standard of education
  8. Possibility of development in the future
  9. Standard of living
  10. Social welfare
  11. Social stability
  12. Sense of national identity
  13. Law and order
  14. Free and peaceful society
  15. International influence and standing
  16. Other
  17. It has nothing to be proud of
  18. Don't know/no answer
Note: Options were changed in this survey. (See List of Changes in Questionnaire)

In Japan, the response most frequently cited was 'history and cultural heritage' at 50.0%, followed in descending order by 'culture and art' (31.7%), 'law and order' (28.9%), 'standard of living' (24.6%), and 'science and technology' (24.5%).
When compared with the previous survey, the percentages of 'law and order' (34.9%arrow28.9%), 'standard of living' (30.0%arrow24.6%), and 'science and technology' (28.4%arrow24.5%) all declined. As a result, items such as 'law and order' (second in the last survey) and 'standard of living' (third in the last survey), moved down on the list. (Table 6-1)

Table 6-1 Something to Be Proud of about Your Country (Changes over the years, Japan)
Table 6-1 Something to Be Proud of about Your Country (Changes over the years, Japan)

Looking at the other countries surveyed, 'historical and cultural heritage' was ranked top in Japan, Korea and the U.S. 'Living standard' came first in Sweden and Germany. 'Sports' was among the top five in all countries except for Japan. 'Nature and natural resources of the country' was among the top five in Korea, the U.S., and Sweden. 'Standard of education' and 'free and peaceful society' were among the top five in Sweden. 'Social welfare' was among the top five in Germany and 'sense of national identity' ranked high in Korea. (Table 6-2)

Table 6-2 Something To Be Proud of Abut Your Country (Country Comparison)
Table 6-2 Something To Be Proud of Abut Your Country (Country Comparison)

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(2) Pride in and Service to Your Country
Q37 What do you think about each of the following statements. Please answer 'yes' or 'no'. (Read out (a) and (b) to the respondent)
  1. I am proud to be a citizen of my country.
  2. I want to do something to serve my country.
 
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don't know/no answer

Respondents were asked two questions regarding the relationship between themselves and their country.
In Japan, 72.6% of the respondents said they were proud to be Japanese, thus, largely exceeding the number of respondents who said 'no' (15.1%).
When compared with the last survey, the percentage of the respondents that said 'yes' declined from 77.1% to 72.6%. Looking at the changes over the years, the percentage of the respondents that said 'yes' reached its peak in the fifth survey, then it declined a little getting close to the level of the second and third surveys.
The percentage of the respondents that said that they wanted to serve the country was 50.0%, thus, exceeding the percentage of the respondents that said that they did not want to serve the country. (27.4%) (Figure 6-1)

Figure 6-1 Country and Self (ratio of affirmative answer, Changes over the years, Japan)
Figure 6-1 Country and Self (ratio of affirmative answer, Changes over the years, Japan)

Looking at the other countries surveyed, the percentage of the respondents who said that they were proud of their own country was the highest in the U.S. at 90.7%, followed in descending order by Sweden, Korea and Japan. In these countries, the figures exceeded 70%. The number of respondents who said that they wanted to serve their own country was the highest in Korea with 73.3%, followed in descending order by Sweden, U.S.A. and Japan. (Figure 6-2)

Figure 6-2 Country and Self (ratio of affirmative answer, Country Comparison)
Figure 6-2 Country and Self (ratio of affirmative answer, Country Comparison)

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(3) Interest in politics
Q38 How much interest do you have in the current politics of your country?
  1. Very interested
  2. Somewhat interested
  3. Not very interested
  4. Not interested at all
  5. Don't know/no answer

In Japan, 6.5% of respondents indicated that they were 'very interested' in politics and 40.2% said that they were 'somewhat interested.' This means that in total 46.7% were interested in politics to certain degree, which was almost equal to the figure of 'not interested' at 51.2% (a combined figure of 'not very interested,' cited by 37.1% and 'not interested at all,' cited by 14.1%).
The figure of 'interested' increased from the previous survey. (37.2%arrow46.7%)
Looking at the other countries surveyed, the percentage of 'interested' was the highest in the U.S. at 69.2%, followed by Korea; in both countries, the rates exceeded 50%. It was then followed in descending order by Japan, Germany and Sweden. In these three countries, more respondents were not interested in politics rather than being interested. (Figure 6-3)

Figure 6-3 Interest in Politics (Country Comparison)
Figure 6-3 Interest in Politics (Country Comparison)

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(4) Image of countrymen
Q41a How do you see the people of your country? Please select any of the following words that you think are appropriate. (multiple answers)
  1. Hardworking
  2. Intelligent
  3. Practical
  4. Vain (excessively proud or concerned with oneself)
  5. Broad-minded
  6. Brave
  7. Polite
  8. Arrogant
  9. Progressive
  10. Peace-loving
  11. Untrustworthy
  12. Don't know/no answer

The Japanese respondents' top five images of their countrymen in descending order were 'hardworking' (46.1%), 'vain (excessively proud or concerned with oneself)' (38.9%), 'polite' (31.1%), and 'peace-loving (23.6%); and with a gap, 'intelligent' (8.0%) came last.
When compared with the last survey, both 'hardworking' and 'vain' decreased from 60.0% to 46.1%, and from 48.0% to 38.9%, respectively; whereas, 'peace-loving' increased from 18.6% to 23.6%. The fifth item on the list was replaced by 'intelligent' from the previous 'untrustworthy'; however, the top four items on the list have not changed over the years. (Table 6-3)

Table 6-3 Image of Countrymen (Changes over the years, Japan)
Table 6-3 Image of Countrymen (Changes over the years, Japan)

Looking at the other countries surveyed, 'hardworking' was the top choice in Korea and Germany as in Japan. The majority of the Americans chose 'intelligent,' and 'polite' was the top choice in Sweden. 'Practical' was among the top five in four countries except Japan. 'Progressive' was ranked third in both the U.S. and Germany and 'brave' was ranked high in the U.S. (Table 6-4)

Table 6-4 Image of Countrymen (Country Comparison)
Table 6-4Image of Countrymen (Country Comparison)

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