62% Want Japan to Be Among Safest Countries in the World, Says Survey

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:16 JST, March 27, 2026

Sixty-two percent of respondents in a recent survey said Japan should strive for world-class public safety, the most frequent answer among 18 options about what kind of country Japan should be.

The poll, conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), explored public sentiment around the country’s future.

Amid major conflicts around the world, the survey found a shared desire for peace and security across generations.

In the survey, respondents were asked to choose from 18 options, with multiple answers allowed. Sixty-nine percent of respondents ages 18 to 39 and 57% of those age 60 and older said Japan should have “world-class public safety.”

The second most popular response was that Japan should have “world-class technological capabilities,” selected by 53% of all respondents. This was followed by the belief that Japan should have “an extensive social welfare system” at 52% and that it should “advocate for peace on the world stage” at 50%.

Respondents were also asked what role Japan should play in the international community, with multiple answers allowed from 13 options. The most popular response was “maintaining and strengthening the international order based on the rule of law,” at 45%. Amid growing instability around the world, many respondents showed support for Japan’s stress on international rules.

The next most popular choice was taking “measures to address climate change and environmental issues” at 44% and “ensuring fair trade and investment based on international rules” at 42%.

When asked where the priority should lie in Japan’s social security system — enhancing services or reducing the financial burden — 64% of respondents chose “reducing the burden,” significantly outnumbering the 32% who chose “enhancing services.”

Respondents were also asked to select up to three areas where the national budget should be increased or decreased, from among 14 options. For budget increases, “health care” was the top choice at 43%, followed by “pensions” at 40% and “nursing care” at 36%. On the other hand, 52% said the budget for “economic cooperation with developing countries” should be cut, while 40% chose “public assistance” and 27% chose “redeeming government bonds” for areas to shrink the budget.

In total, 93% of respondents expressed interest in the future challenges facing Japan.

The Yomiuri Shimbun and the JIIA jointly prepared the survey questions, which covered such topics as visions for the country, diplomacy and security, economic security and foreign nationals.

Nationwide, 3,000 voters were surveyed from Jan. 19 to Feb. 26, with 2,085 providing valid responses, representing a response rate of 70%.

The JIIA was established in 1959 at the suggestion of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. It conducts research on diplomacy and security and provides policy recommendations. The JIIA is highly regarded internationally. In 2021, it was named 2020’s Think Tank of the Year by the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, an award recognizing world-class research institutions with notable achievements based on a survey of around 7,500 organizations and media outlets. Kenichiro Sasae, a former ambassador to the United States, serves as president.

Key questions and answers from Yomiuri-JIIA survey

What kind of country do you think Japan should aim to be? Multiple answers allowed.

A country that:

•has a world-class economy 31%

•has world-class technological capabilities 53%

•has world-class public safety 62%

•has some of the best universities and research institutions 21%

•is influential and a strong voice in the international community 32%

•has a low level of economic inequality 29%

•values competition and where individuals can challenge themselves 4%

•has an extensive social welfare system 52%

•prioritizes disaster prevention 38%

•advocates for peace on the world stage 50%

•has strong defense capabilities 29%

•prioritizes cultural promotion 18%

•recognizes diverse values 24%

•values nature and the global environment 47%

•has gender equality 31%

•is visited by many foreign tourists 11%

•allows Japanese citizens to coexist with foreign residents 16%

•values etiquette and social norms 41%

Other 1%

None in particular 1%

No answer 1%

In what areas do you think Japan should play a leading role in the international community? Multiple answers allowed.

Humanitarian aid for refugees and displaced persons 19%

Economic cooperation with developing and emerging nations 22%

Maintaining and strengthening the international order based on the rule of law 45%

Ensuring fair trade and investment based on international rules 42%

International contributions to the advancement of science and technology 35%

Developing AI and establishing rules for its use 21%

International contributions in the fields of medicine and public health, including measures against infectious diseases 39%

Measures to address climate change and environmental issues 44%

Negotiations toward the peaceful resolution of international conflicts 27%

Participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations 16%

Efforts toward disarmament and nuclear weapons reduction 31%

U.N. reform 12%

Efforts to protect intellectual property rights 21%

Other 1%

None in particular 5%

No answer 2%

Where should the priority lie regarding Japan’s social security system? Enhancing services or reducing the burden?

Enhancing services 10%

Somewhat in favor of enhancing services 22%

Somewhat in favor of reducing the burden 43%

Reducing the burden 21%

No answer 3%

In what areas should the national budget be increased? In what areas should it be decreased? Select up to three for each.

(Figures on the left are for areas where the budget should be increased; figures on the right are for areas where it should be decreased.)

Pensions 40% 5%

Health care 43% 6%

Nursing care 36% 4%

Public assistance 3% 40%

Measures to address the declining birth rate 33% 11%

Education 29% 3%

Science and technology 29% 4%

Grants to local governments 8% 18%

Defense 19% 25%

Public works 9% 19%

Economic cooperation with developing countries 1% 52%

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries 21% 2%

Support for small and medium-sized businesses 11% 10%

Redeeming government bonds 3% 27%

Other 0% 3%

No answer 2% 10%

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your current standard of living?

Satisfied 10%

Somewhat satisfied 52%

Somewhat dissatisfied 28%

Dissatisfied 8%

No answer 1%

Given Japan’s shrinking population, how do you think the country should accept foreign workers to ensure economic growth?

Focus on accepting foreign workers with specialized knowledge and skills 39%

Accept foreign workers in industries facing labor shortages 27%

Accept a wide range of people regardless of knowledge, skills or industry 17%

There is no need to increase the number of foreign workers 14%

No answer 2%

Do you agree or disagree with the government and companies improving working conditions and the environment to actively accept foreign workers with specialized knowledge and skills?

Agree 21%

Somewhat agree 51%

Somewhat disagree 18%

Disagree 9%

No answer 1%

Do you agree or disagree with accepting immigrants — foreigners who move to Japan with the intention of living in the country permanently?

Agree 7%

Somewhat agree 35%

Somewhat disagree 38%

Disagree 19%

No answer 1%

Are you for or against Japan strengthening its defense capabilities?

For 74%

Against 24%

No answer 1%

Are you for or against increasing defense spending to strengthen defense capabilities?

For 58%

Against 41%

No answer 2%

How should the government fund an increase in defense spending? Select one.

Issuing government bonds 18%

Cut budgets other than defense spending 40%

Increase taxes 7%

Other 2%

Increase in defense spending is unnecessary 30%

No answer 4%

Are you for or against the government using cutting-edge technologies from research institutions, such as universities, and private companies for defense purposes?

For 70%

Against 27%

No answer 3%

Major countries are actively exporting weapons. Are you for or against enhancing the production capacity of Japan’s domestic defense industry and promoting the export of defense equipment?

For 37%

Against 60%

No answer 4%

The government adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles regarding nuclear weapons: “not possessing, not producing, and not permitting their entry into the country.” Should the principles be upheld or should they be revised in light of the international situation?

(A) They should be upheld

(B) Somewhat believe they should be upheld

(C) Somewhat believe they be revised

(D) They could be revised

(E) No answer

Japan shall not possess nuclear weapons

(A) 60% (B) 19% (C) 9% (D) 10% (E) 1%

Japan shall not produce nuclear weapons

(A) 63% (B) 18% (C) 8% (D) 9% (E) 1%

Japan shall not permit nuclear weapons to enter its territory

(A) 70% (B) 14% (C) 7% (D) 8% (E) 1%

Do the following three countries pose a threat to Japan’s national security?

(A) Poses a threat

(B) Poses somewhat of a threat

(C) Does not pose much of a threat

(D) Does not pose a threat

(E) No answer

China

(A) 67% (B) 26% (C) 4% (D) 1% (E) 2%

North Korea

(A) 59% (B) 28% (C) 9% (D) 2% (E) 2%

Russia

(A) 53% (B) 34% (C) 10% (D) 1% (E) 2%

Which country or bloc do you think will have the strongest influence in the international community? Select one.

United States 71%

China 16%

Japan 2%

India 4%

European Union 1%

Other —

No answer 5%

Do you think the Japan-U.S. alliance acts as a deterrent against attacks on Japan?

Yes 79%

No 19%

No answer 3%

China is expanding its maritime presence in Asia. For the sake of peace and stability in Southeast Asia, are you for or against Japan advancing defense cooperation with Southeast Asian countries?

For 85%

Against 11%

No answer 4%

Survey method

The survey was sent to 3,000 randomly selected voters nationwide via mail on Jan. 19, and 2,118 responses were sent back by Feb. 26. Of those, 2,085 were valid responses, representing a response rate of 70%.

Of the respondents, 47% were men, 53% were women and 0% were others. Voters aged 18-29 accounted for 10% of the responses, voters in their 30s accounted for 11%, those in their 40s accounted for 14%, people in their 50s accounted for 21%, those in their 60s accounted for 20% and voters 70 and older accounted for 25%.

Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. Totals in graphs and tables may not add up to 100%. Zero indicates less than 0.5%.