Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Party Presidential Elections, Interest in PoliticsResults of 65th installment announced – Party elections increased interest in politics for close to 50% of respondents, more than half intend to vote in upcoming general election

Ahead of elections for the leaders of two of Japan’s main political parties, the 65th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out on September 20-21 to gauge changes in young people’s interest in politics, their intention to vote in the next general election, and their expectations regarding politics and the new prime minister going forward. (The ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) elected a new president, who automatically became Japan’s new prime minister, on September 27, and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) elected a new leader on September 23.) Roughly 60% of respondents were aware that the CDP would be holding an election, and roughly 80% were aware of the LDP election. Roughly half of respondents (48%) replied that the party elections had “Increased their in politics,” and more than half replied that if a Lower House parliamentary election were called, they “Intend to vote.”

With regard to the LDP leadership, roughly 30% thought that having a new prime minister would be a “Change for the better” and roughly the same percentage thought that there would be “No change,” while roughly 10% thought that there would be a “Change for the worse.” In terms of expectations for a new prime minister, “Understanding the lives of the general public,” a “Clean (impartial and transparent) administration,” and “Conviction to make Japan better” were each cited by close to 30% of respondents.

When asked what themes they would like to see emphasized in politics and government going forward in particular, the “Declining birthrate and support for child rearing” was cited most often, at close to 40%, followed by “Economic policies” at more than 30%, and among female respondents, “Work-style reforms” and “Gender equality and gender diversity” were also highly cited.

Highlights of the 65th Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Party Presidential Elections, Interest in Politics

Changes in the LDP with the replacement of party president

  • Change for the better – 31.3%
  • No change – 33.0%
  • Change for the worse – 10.2%
  • Don’t know – 20.5%
  • No reply – 5.0%
  • *
    “Change for the better” is the total of “Change for the better” and “Somewhat change for the better,” “and “Change for the worse” is the total of “Change for the worse” and “Somewhat change for the worse.”

Expectations of the new prime minister

  • Understanding the lives of the general public – 29.9%
  • Conviction to make Japan better – 27.6%
  • Clean (impartial and transparent) administration – 27.4%
  • *
    Up to three replies allowed

Themes they would like to see emphasized in politics and government going forward

  • Declining birthrate and support for child rearing – 38.2%
  • Economic policies – 34.0%
  • Education – 24.3%
  • *
    Up to three replies allowed

Survey Excerpts

Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “Are you aware that an election for LDP president will take place?”, among all respondents (n = 1,000), 40.0% replied “Know that election will take place and know who most of the candidates are,” 40.4% replied “Know that election will take place, but don’t know details,” 10.2% replied “Don’t know that election will take place,” and 9.4% replied “Don’t know what a party leadership election is / Have not heard of a party leadership election.” Among male respondents (n = 513), 46.0% replied “Know that election will take place and know who most of the candidates are,” 35.7% replied “Know that election will take place, but don’t know details,” 8.6% replied “Don’t know that election will take place,” and 9.7% replied “Don’t know what a party leadership election is / Have not heard of a party leadership election.” Among female respondents (n = 487), 33.7% replied “Know that election will take place and know who most of the candidates are,” 45.4% replied “Know that election will take place, but don’t know details,” 11.9% replied “Don’t know that election will take place,” and 9.0% replied “Don’t know what a party leadership election is / Have not heard of a party leadership election.”
Awareness that election for LDP president will take place
Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “How do you view changes in the LDP with the replacement of party president?”, among all respondents (n = 1,000), 8.3% replied “Change for the better,” 23.0% replied “Somewhat change for the better,” 33.0% replied “No change,” 8.5% replied “Somewhat change for the worse,” 1.7% replied “Change for the worse,” 20.5% replied “Don’t know,” and 5.0% gave no reply. Among male respondents (n = 513), 9.2% replied “Change for the better,” 19.9% replied “Somewhat change for the better,” 34.5% replied “No change,” 10.9% replied “Somewhat change for the worse,” 2.5% replied “Change for the worse,” 18.5% replied “Don’t know,” and 4.5% gave no reply. Among female respondents (n = 487), 7.4% replied “Change for the better,” 26.3% replied “Somewhat change for the better,” 31.4% replied “No change,” 6.0% replied “Somewhat change for the worse,” 0.8% replied “Change for the worse,” 22.6% replied “Don’t know,” and 5.5% gave no reply.
Changes in the LDP with the replacement of party president
Bar chart showing results from Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds: In response to the question, “What are your expectations of the new prime minister?”, the top replies (with up to three allowed) were as follows: “Understanding the lives of the general public” was cited by 29.9% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 27.7% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 32.2% of female respondents (n = 487); “Conviction to make Japan better” was cited by 27.6% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 27.3% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 27.9% of female respondents (n = 487); “Clean (impartial and transparent) administration” was cited by 27.4% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 23.6% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 31.4% of female respondents (n = 487); “Attitude of incorporating the views of young people” was cited by 23.3% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 20.7% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 26.1% of female respondents (n = 487); “Attitude of prioritizing Japan’s economic revitalization” was cited by 17.9% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 20.1% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 15.6% of female respondents (n = 487); “Ability to build relationships with other countries / International sensibility” was cited by 15.1% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 15.8% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 14.4% of female respondents (n = 487); “Strict response to politicians’ scandals” was cited by 15.0% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 15.4% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 14.6% of female respondents (n = 487); “Drive to implement proposed policies” was cited by 14.7% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 13.8% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 15.6% of female respondents (n = 487); “Attitude of prioritizing Japan’s benefit over that of other countries” was cited by 12.5% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 15.6% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 9.2% of female respondents (n = 487); “Decisiveness in setting national policy” was cited by 10.4% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 12.3% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 8.4% of female respondents (n = 487); “Attitude of not being bound by factions or customs” was cited by 10.3% of all respondents (n = 1,000), by 11.3% of male respondents (n = 513), and by 9.2% of female respondents (n = 487).
Expectations of the new prime minister (top replies; up to three allowed)

About the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds

Revisions to Japan’s Civil Code lowering the age of adulthood to 18 for a range of activities, including voting, took effect in April 2022, making it even more important to understand and record the awareness of the 18-year-olds who represent Japan’s next generation. With this in mind, in October 2018 The Nippon Foundation launched the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds as an ongoing survey of young men and women across Japan aged around 18, to survey their values, attitudes toward politics and elections, understanding of social issues, and other current themes on an ongoing basis.

Notes: 

  1. From the 13th survey, the number of respondents, comprising men and women aged 17 to 19, has been increased to 1,000 from 800.
  2. With the exception of the 20th, 46th, and 62nd installments, all surveys cover respondents in Japan only.

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Global Communications Team
The Nippon Foundation

  • Email: info_global_communication@ps.nippon-foundation.or.jp