Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – U.S. Presidential Election, National SecurityResults of 66th installment announced – Less than 30% see presidential election bringing ‘change for the better’ in U.S.-Japan relationship

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 5, the 66th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out on October 19-20 to gauge young people’s awareness of the U.S. election, their views of the U.S.-Japan relationship with regard to a change of administration, and their thinking regarding Japan’s national security.

Only roughly 40% of the 1,000 surveyed 17 to 19 year olds were aware that votes for U.S. president would be cast and counted in November, while fewer than half (46.6%) replied that under the current Biden administration, the U.S.-Japan relationship was either “Good” or “Somewhat good.”
With regard to the change in the U.S.-Japan relationship under a new U.S. administration, less that 30% of all respondents (25.6%) replied that they expected a “Change for the better,” while close to 20% replied “No change” and close to 20% replied “Change for the worse.” When asked about important issues in the U.S.-Japan relationship going forward, roughly 30% cited “Jointly addressing the North Korea situation” and “Resolving problems with U.S. military bases in Japan,” while only roughly 30% said that they saw the “U.S. military protecting Japan if Japan were to be attacked or invaded by another country.” On the subject of treatment (salary and working conditions) for members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, less than 10% replied that they are “Treated well,” while roughly 30% each replied either “Treated appropriately” or “Treated poorly.”
One of the unique features of this survey was the high number of respondents, at more than 30%, replying “Don’t know” in response to questions related to the closeness of the U.S. presidential election and differences with the Japanese election system.

Highlights of the 66th Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – U.S. Presidential Election, National Security

Change in the U.S.-Japan relationship under a new U.S. administration

• Change for the better – 25.6%
• No change – 19.2%
• Change for the worse – 17.2%
• Don’t know – 35.0%
• No reply – 3.0%

Impression of treatment (salary and working conditions) for members of the Self-Defense Forces

• Treated well – 7.6%
• Treated appropriately – 29.4%
• Treated poorly – 32.7%
• Don’t know – 26.5%
• No reply – 3.8%

Thinking regarding an “Asian NATO”

• Necessary – 43.7%
• Not necessary – 17.1%
• Don’t know – 34.4%
• No reply – 4.8%

Survey Excerpts

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.