August 2014
From the Survey on Japanese Value Orientations
Koichi Takahashi / Hiroshi Aramaki
This two-part series reports the results of the latest “Survey on Japanese Value Orientation,” which has been conducted by NHK every five years since 1973. This second installment features politics, nationalism, and basic values of the Japanese.
Those who feel public actions such as voting in the election, demonstrations, and public opinions have impact on the nation’s politics increased from the 2000s onward. Regarding issues that the government has to address, those who name “economic growth” have increased over these five years while those who name “improvement of social welfare” have decreased.
Both of those thinking “the Japanese have innate qualities” and those thinking “Japan is a first-rank nation” have increased, following the previous survey; the proportion of the Japanese who are confident in their country and their compatriots have come closer to the record high marked in 1983. People who “feel reverence for” the Emperor also kept increasing (34%) following the previous survey to reach the level of 1973, the Showa era, and to tie those who “have a good feeling toward” the Emperor.
As to relationships with relatives and colleagues, those who think “relationship that one can talk over many matters with them and help each other” is desirable have decreased again over these five years, and those who want close relationship with others including neighbors have greatly decreased over these 40 years.
Among other findings is that although Japan experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake between the previous and the latest surveys there are a few items that show distinct change from past survey results, which suggests that noticeable influence of the 3/11 disaster was not observed in the range of values dealt with in the “Survey on Japanese Value Orientation.”