By Focus | 2026-03-26

TOKYO -- A joint public opinion survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun and the Japan Institute of International Affairs found that 74% of respondents support strengthening Japan's defense capabilities, while 58% back higher defense spending, reflecting continued public concern over the regional security environment.

The survey, conducted from March 20 to 22, underscores how China remains the primary threat in the Japanese public's perception. An overwhelming 93% of respondents reported feeling threatened by China, including 67% who feel "very threatened" and 26% who feel threatened "to some extent."

Plans to revise security policy

Japan plans to revise three key security documents by year's end, with defense spending expansion and funding sources set to become major policy issues, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

That overall figure of 93% was little changed from a 2024 poll, when 91% said they felt threatened by China. But the share saying they felt "very threatened" rose by 9 percentage points. The report said that shift may reflect more intense pressure from Beijing after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in parliament last November on a possible Taiwan contingency, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Meanwhile, 87% of respondents feel threatened by North Korea, with an identical share expressing concern about Russia -- figures that remain broadly unchanged from two years ago.

Confidence in US still strong

Despite heightened concern over neighboring powers, confidence in the United States remains strong. The poll found that 79% say the Japan-US alliance serves as a credible deterrent against attack, while 19% disagreed.

Younger respondents view the alliance as particularly effective; 84% of those aged 18 to 39 credited the alliance with strengthening deterrence, compared to 73% of respondents aged 60 or older.

The same age gap appeared in attitudes toward defense policy more broadly. Support for strengthening Japan's defense capabilities reached 86% among respondents ages 18 to 39, compared with 77% among those ages 40 to 59 and 66% among those age 60 or older.

The report suggested younger Japanese may be more anxious about Japan's future security environment.

In a multiple-answer question about developments they worry could happen in the future, 29% of younger respondents selected the possibility of an armed conflict with a foreign country, higher than the 21% recorded among older respondents. Younger people expressed greater concern about worsening public safety and international terrorism.

Younger Japanese more hawkish

Support for higher defense spending was more pronounced among younger respondents, at 64%, compared with 54% among older respondents.

Asked how additional defense spending should be financed, 40% said the government should first cut other budget items. That was followed by issuing government bonds at 18% and raising taxes at 7%. Another 30% saw no need to increase defense spending.

However, younger respondents were more inclined than the overall public to favor spending cuts elsewhere in the budget, at 44%, and bond issuance, at 24%. Only 5% backed tax increases, while 22% opposed any spending hike -- a lower percentage than the national average.

The survey found support for drawing on advanced technology from universities, research institutions and private companies for defense purposes. Some 70% said they support such use, while 27% opposed it.

On economic security, 78% agreed that Japan should prioritize strengthening domestic production of critical goods like semiconductors, followed by promoting recycling of electronics to salvage critical minerals (55%) and developing technology to reduce dependence on foreign countries (52%).

On perceptions of global influence, 71% chose the United States as the country or region likely to have the greatest international influence in the future, far ahead of China at 16%. India came next at 4%, followed by Japan at 2%.

The survey was conducted by mail among 3,000 eligible voters nationwide, with a response rate of 70%.