Japanese Attitudes Toward China and the United States: A Sociological Analysis

Abstract As China and the United States have a great impact on Japan, Japanese attitudes toward China and the United States have been the focus of debate. This study uses nationally representative longitudinal data from Japan to investigate how the economic and political threats are relevant to Japanese attitudes toward China and the United States. Empirical analyses find that: first, socioeconomic status (SES) is significantly associated with individuals’ attitudes toward the United States but not China. Second, individuals’ perceptions of Japan’s economic situation influence their attitudes toward China and the United States; that is, an optimistic assessment of Japan’s economy increases the Japanese people’s positive attitudes toward both China and the United States. Finally, the political threats have contrasting effects on Japanese attitudes toward China and the United States. Concerns over political threats increase Japan’s favorable attitudes toward the United States while deteriorating the positive attitudes toward China.