Perceptions of Russia and the USA by Japanese public opinion against the background of the SMO, negotiations and trade wars

The present article explores the shifts in public opinion in Japan regarding the Special Military Operation (SMO) and the changing policies of the new U.S. administration. The principal objective of this analysis is to delineate the direction and velocity of transformations in the collective attitudes of the Japanese population amidst the rapid evolution of the international landscape. This study relies on a secondary analysis of empirical data sourced from representative surveys conducted during the period from 2024 to 2025-approximately six months after Donald Trump’s assumption of the presidency in the United States. The findings reveal that Japanese perspectives on Russia remain steadfastly negative; Russia is perceived as the foremost threat to Japan, and there exists a substantial public endorsement for anti-Russian sanctions. Consequently, the recent softening of the U.S. approach towards Russia has yet to resonate with the public sentiment of its principal ally in East Asia. This durability of Japanese public opinion indicates that any potential for enhancing Russian-Japanese relations in the near future is unlikely. Conversely, perceptions of the U.S. are undergoing swift and significant changes. In the context of an impending trade conflict, a form of rhetorical anti-Americanism appears to be gaining widespread acceptance among the Japanese population. The insights derived from this analysis highlight the pressing need for the formulation of more nuanced and non-linear models to effectively assess the dynamics of public opinion within the sphere of international relations.

public opinion, attitude of the Japanese towards the United States, attitude of the Japanese towards Russia