national

Only 11% of Japanese people willing to fight for their country: Gallup survey

69 Comments
By RocketNews24

WIN Gallup International recently announced the results of their international survey on people’s willingness to fight for their country. Despite recent changes to the constitution, it turns out Japanese are least likely to get their guns among all nations surveyed.

The survey polled 1,000 people in each of the 64 different countries and regions included. Overall about 61% of people in the world are willing to fight for their country. That average is dragged down considerably by Japan, where only 11% would answer their nation’s call of duty.

Generally, countries with ongoing conflicts or tensions with neighboring countries ranked high on the list, such as Pakistan, where 89% were willing to fight for their country. However, topping the list were Morocco and Fiji, which were tied at 94%.

Other anomalies include Finland which ranked high among European countries with 74% of people willing to throw down. Perhaps because they have the solemn duty of protecting Santa’s workshop at all costs.

As far as why Japan has such rock-bottom willingness to fight for their country, here’s what some citizens had to say about it.

“This eleven percent talks about the concept of fighting, but it would be very different if there was a real conflict happening.”

“This is no surprise. Even all you who like to talk tough would just run away leaving a trail of urine when the time comes.”

“A country that says ‘I don’t want to fight. I want someone else to do it for me.'”

“It’s ridiculous that people are misled by the concept of arbitrary territories or countries.”

“Of course, there’s no real problems that people are facing now. Who knows in the future though?”

As some comments pointed out, people’s willingness to fight can easily sway one way or the other depending on circumstances. Since the WIN Gallup question had no context, it was up to the respondents to assume who and why they would be fighting.

Sources: WIN Gallup International, 47 News, Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- The most intense, death-defying military training exercises from around the world -- The number one thing that foreign men find “not so kawaii” about Japanese women -- McDonald’s Japan faces largest deficit ever, closing 190 stores and retiring 100 HQ staff

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

69 Comments
Login to comment

Yes. let's all kill each other over pieces of colored cloth. Nationalism stifles the planet and species.

15 ( +21 / -7 )

It is ironic that a population so overwhelmingly pacifist that only 11% would fight to protect their country still predominantly vote in support of saber-rattling nationalists like Abe and former Tokyo mayor Ishihara.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

“This is no surprise. Even all you who like to talk tough would just run away leaving a trail of urine when the time comes.”

Wow. Pretty harsh words. That low a number would seem to mean that everyone who isn't part of Japan's right-wing/nationalists would not fight for their country.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japanese people are very pacifist. :)

-3 ( +10 / -13 )

Was any distinction made between fighting for one's country and fighting for one's government (elites)? I almost never see this distinction made, even though its evident that most of the time the question is posed, its all about fighting some needless war of plunder and power tripping on the part of the government (elites). Fighting for your country would be a war of defense, and I bet more would be willing to fight in such a case. Which is why the government (elites) consistently conflate the two scenarios. And the people and the press are so dumb they can't figure it out. Oh, well, at least the Japanese people mostly just refuse to fight at all. Even so, 11 percent will be enough volunteers to cause some serious damage somewhere.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It's amazing how 1000 people apparently represents the whole population.... These polls are useless.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Wow, 11% of Japanese drive speaker trucks?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The whole poll results are more interesting. Germany (Japan's WW2 counterpart) also scored near bottom at 18%, and most of Europe was less than 30%. Even the US was only at 44% (meaning well more than half of the US would not fight for their country, regardless of what Donald Trump intends), and quite interestingly was South Korea at 42%, which not only has the looming threat of the North, but also a constant bombardment of nationalism they get from birth (as well as required conscription). Actually, when comparing the under/over 50% it becomes a clear divide of developed and developing countries. (Maybe as living conditions get better, one has less desire to die?)

See the whole poll here: http://gallup-international.bg/en/Publications/2015/220-WIN-Gallup-International%E2%80%99s-global-survey-shows-three-in-five-willing-to-fight-for-their-country

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Other anomalies include Finland which ranked high among European countries with 74% of people willing to throw down. Perhaps because they have the solemn duty of protecting Santa’s workshop at all costs.

Wow. Way to trivialize their feeling of possibly seeing, say, Russia as a threat. Go look at history. Here's a small amount courtesy of Wikipedia but easily verifiable elsewhere:The military history of Finland during World War II encompasses three major conflicts. The first two of these – the defensive Winter War in 1939–1940, and the Continuation War alongside the Axis Powers in 1941–1944 – were waged against the Soviet Union. The third one, the Lapland War in 1944–1945, followed the signing of an armistice agreement with the Allied Powers, which stipulated expulsion of German forces from Finnish territory.

By the end of hostilities, Finland managed to defend its independence, but had to cede nearly 10% of its territory, including its second largest city, Viipuri, and pay out a large amount of war reparations to the Soviet Union. As a result of this territorial loss, all Finnish Karelians were evacuated from their homes, relocating to areas that remained within the borders of Finland.

6 ( +6 / -1 )

Did the survey asked specific questions about in which circumstances people would be willing to fight and in which won't? People fight when feel threatened in one way or another in vital issues. These can be territory, resources or food. 70 years of having-it-all make the most rabid nationalist complacent as a baby.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The cynic in me thinks this low percentage is at least partially a result of an attitude developed in Japan over the last 70 years of "why put myself in harm's way protecting my country when I can pay foreign mercenaries (men and women of the US armed forces) to do it for me."

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Gallup polls have a general margin of error of + / - 5%, so one could consider the physical unwillingness to go to war of at least 80% of Japanese citizens to be accurate.

Contrary to this, Abe & co would like us to believe all their pro-military, chest puffing and "woe is our poor isle" hype creating a society where 100,000,000 hearts beat as one, marching in step to protect our shores.

Thankfully most don't appear to embracet this narrative and are not willing to follow grandson of kishi down that path.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Try taking away their smartphones. Then you'd have a war.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Defending oneself and attacking others are two very different contexts. What would be used to incite the Japanese would be a false flag attack. Already, the precedent of terror conflict is being used by Japanese politicians to justify expenditure on equipment and training. Expect to see the unwinnable 'war on terror' coming to Japan soon!

5 ( +6 / -2 )

Just a probe by the newspapers to get a feel for how conscription is going to go over in a few years. :)

2 ( +7 / -5 )

With the Americans willing to die for them, I do not blame them for the 11% number.

Remove the Americans, and watch that number go way up.

2 ( +8 / -5 )

I think if you changed the question to whether they would be willing to fight to defend their country, the number would be the polar opposite.

And on that note, this seems like a good balance to me. If the whole world were like this, we wouldn't have wars.

1 ( +5 / -5 )

Encouraging. Let's hope this serves as an example to the people of some of the more warlike nations. War is rarely about fighting in defense of one's country, war is more often than not about expanding the territory and/or wealth of those who run countries.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It's easier to conquer Japan that's not willing to protect their pacifist way of life, ironic lol

-5 ( +1 / -5 )

Ask the same question in a group setting......

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Very encouraging. Nationalism is a virus and the glory of war is sold to the gullible by the sick.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

11% is nothing. Japan have Gundam and Macross to fight for them. Its all robotech, no need pilots and land troops. Its on the making somewhere in secret underground based. Might revert for war purpose if godzila never exist.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@William Wong I assume you're joking, but a reality is that LAWS, lethal autonomous weapons systems, are a reality and will become increasingly important in warfare. The positive is fewer humans should be needed for battle, but the negatives are really frightening.

http://www.stopkillerrobots.org/

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

11% of Japans adult population would create a fair sized army.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

They should have conducted this survey after a "Nomikai" and probably the results would be opposite.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I'd be interested to know how the question was phrased.

Ask questions like:

a) 'Would you join the army and go to fight in Syria?'

or

b) 'Would you join the army to fight a Chinese invasion?'

And I guarantee you'd get very different answers.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Not surprising given all the grass eaters. Japan should introduce compulsory military service in order to toughen some of these petals up.

-6 ( +3 / -10 )

Not so surprising that Japan and Germany would at the bottom. Once your country has been completely defeated and virtually destroyed along with countless dead, the idea of risking everything again would be a hard sell. Having said that, if for example, China invaded Japan in revenge and there were Chinese troops in Japan, the Japanese would definitely fight back.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Which criteria was used to get these results? 1000 people is a tip of the iceberg in as far as the population of Japan is concerned. The questionnaire leaves a lot to be desired before concluding that 89% can stay adamant in the event of war.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Abe and his goons don't care about 11%. Its almost a guarantee they will try to implement a draft system similar to South Koreas in the next few years.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Maybe the lack of interest is due to the fact that there's nothing really to fight for at the moment ??

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Isn't this a loaded question, though? Like under what terms? Does being a patriot mean you have to agree to fight against whatever enemy your country's leaders put you against? If my country was being invaded, for example, then yeah, toss me a gun but I can't think of that many things less patriotic than blindly assuming allegiance. You'd have to live in a perfect country that never makes any mistakes for that to make sense and, of course, that doesn't exist.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Maybe because in modern history, Japanese who enlist didnt really fight to defend their contry but fought to occupy other Asian countries and bomb Pearl Harbour. So 11% of today is an alarming number.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why is this a shock - as Alex80 says (why the thumbs down for his comment) Japan is a pacifist nation, has been for over 70 years. It should be no surprise to anyone who has lived here a fair while. It's one in the eye for those that are always incorrectly droning on about Japan being aggressive.

4 ( +5 / -2 )

War is rarely about fighting in defense of one's country, war is more often than not about expanding the territory and/or wealth of those who run countries.

Which means that the countries that are protecting their territory from being expanded into are fighting in defense of their country.

1000 people is a very small sample.

I wonder what the results would be if you asked if they would be willing to fight for the lives, freedom and security of themselves and their families?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Sadly it may be also true for the USA.

Pacifism is not the problem as much as the population "expecting" others to do their job and do the "protecting."

The first thing most will say is that those who are in such and such a position to their jobs are not doing their job. Thus blaming others. And on top of that, they expect to get an apology from the very top person they consider to be responsible with substantial "gifts" added to satisfy what they believe is their right to receive or even take as compensation.

I wander what they will say and do next...?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

As always, I wanna see the demographics of the poll. Polling a roughly even split of men/women, of all ages, really doesn't tell you much: the bulk of the fighting in any scenario will be done by 18-30yo men. It's THEIR willingness to take up arms that will matter. And since Japan is one of the oldest countries in the world, this is already a small cohort of the population. In fact, 15-29 yo males are ~13.2% of Fiji's population (Google Image search Fiji population pyramid) but only ~7.6% of Japan's (Wiki: Demographics of Japan).

However, topping the list were Morocco and Fiji, which were tied at 94%.

Fiji being at the top doesn't surprise me at all: nearly 10 years ago I was reading articles about Fijian mercenaries in Iraq. Something about that place makes it a breeding ground for men willing to do violence. Traditional warrior culture, poverty, and a history of military coups, plus the demographics that I mentioned above?

@serendipitous

Once your country has been completely defeated and virtually destroyed along with countless dead, the idea of risking >everything again would be a hard sell.

A hard sell for the elderly who remember.....but it shouldn't be a hard sell to 20-year-olds who can barely comprehend what being on the receiving end of a 1,000-bomber firebombing raid is like. I think "the grasseaters simply prefer their lives of comfort" is a more reasonable explanation.

@anotherexpat

War is rarely about fighting in defense of one's country, war is more often than not about expanding the territory and/or >wealth of those who run countries.

One thing that bothers me about modern "professional" soldering: all of the profits acrue at the top, or to the companies in the military-industrial complex. In the old days when looting/pillaging was much more tolerated, you could keep pretty much whatever you could get your hands on: weapons, jewelry, livestock, women. Even the low-ranking infantrymen could become wealthy after a successful attack on a city. Now you can't even keep battlefield souvenirs without scrutiny from higher. Pvt. Schmuckatelli doesn't have much personal economic/material incentive to participate in expeditionary wars of choice. Hence the need for nations to rely on heavy propaganda and trumping up the threats posed by "those other people".

@Mocheake

Wow. Way to trivialize their feeling of possibly seeing, say, Russia as a threat.

Yeah, that insult to Finland immediately stood out to me too. I doubt the author is all that keen on military history....or much of anything, beyond Asian women and other otaku subjects. Nobody goes to RocketNews for insightful geopolitical analysis.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Today, wars are being fought "remotely" and only when occupation or physical combat is necessary, personnel are actually go to fight physically.

If given a control stick or a game controller, even children may be willing to "participate" in a war. Some on the other hand, may even enjoy just holding a weapon and being able to use it.

Therefore, our future as Mankind must be considered very seriously, especially when we talk of "fighting" for a country or for any cause or reason.

For many "LIFE" may have NO value or meaning.

They are the very ones being recruited for ISIS/ISIL.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

from the ROCKET NEWS (not) 24 "Other anomalies include Finland which ranked high among European countries with 74% of people willing to throw down. Perhaps because they have the solemn duty of protecting Santa’s workshop at all costs."

I completely agree with obvious complete lack of knowledge of anything by the (insert own adjective here) who wrote this article.

Whatever may have possibly and even remotely had teeth in this article is completely null and void by the obvious lack of knowledge of say.....oh, 20th Century history, particularly ....WWII perhaps?!

Look at a map and that in and of itself should be a clue that Finland was lucky not to have become like Estonia or any other country bordering the USSR!!!

People with memories of that experience are still alive. Thanks to Mocheake and Noble 713 for drawing attention to this. Why oh why do we have to have Rocket (news)24 around?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Fight for Japan or fight for the Japanese emperor and the right wingers? Hopefully very few for the latter.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

These polls are as much garbage as anything else produced in modern times. About as useful in explaining a group of people as Jersey Shore is at explaining America.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Only 11% of Japanese people willing to fight for their country

After suffering a terrible defeat in WW2, seems like the taste for battle has been slapped out of their mouths still 70 years later.

On the other hand, I hope pacifist Japanese would appreciate and support their own SDF if Japan came under attack. If Japan was attacked, I hope most the young males under 30 who are drifting around, living at home and working part time would join the fight to defend their home and way of life.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Japanese mind set is why should they fight for their country when they know the US will fight for them. According to my J-friends, they say that's what their tax dollars pay for so the US bases in the country house the US troops to fight for them.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Yes. let's all kill each other over pieces of colored cloth. Nationalism stifles the planet and species.

And yet, most of the killing these days is over who has the "right" set of religious beliefs.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I am from the U.S. But I have made my home here in Japan. I have told many this and since it's my home now and I have family here, then if needed I would fight for Japan.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A better question to put to these people would have been; "Are you willing to fight AND die for Japan". Taken in abstract terms being willing to defend one's country is one thing, but one has to add in the potential that one would die in the process as well.

This is the question that Japanese should be thinking about NOW, especially with how Abe is pushing the defense and military issues. Japanese people need to take a hard look at themselves and decide what is right for them, continue with the pacifistic stance that has created one of the world's most peaceful societies or walk down the path of having to see the coffins of it's son's and daughters being killed in some foreign conflict in support of a Japanese ally.

It's a great question at an appropriate time and the number one group of people they should be asking is the 18 to 25 year old's, as they will be the one's who would be called upon to "fight".

This group should make the effort and survey this age group, and not just 1,000, more like 10,000 or more, to get a better sampling. I'll bet the results are a heck of a lot different, as in lower than 11%.

11% of Japans adult population would create a fair sized army.

All depends upon the 11%

3 ( +3 / -0 )

“This is no surprise. Even all you who like to talk tough would just run away leaving a trail of urine when the time comes

Exactly

0 ( +1 / -2 )

Only 11% of Japanese people willing to fight for their country: Gallup survey

Tell Abe.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What do you expect, this is a natural reaction when Japan has not had its own military in 70 years. I would assume that young people in Japan have no expectation of having to go to war. I grew up in the shadows of the Vietnam war and always thought there was a chance I would be drafted into a war someday.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Only 11% of Japanese people willing to fight for their country: Gallup survey

Paying attention Shin-chan?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

For all you statistical poo-pooers, please let us know what a statistically valid sample size would be. Show your math.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

I think this entire poll is a bit bogus. I live in Canada and I bet if I asked 100 people if they would take up arms against ISIS, or if they would be willing to engage in live combat against an invading force, maybe one or two people would answer in the affirmative. I think you'd get similar results in any other Western country. Its easy to claim that you would fight for your country when responding to a stupid poll in the comfort of your home (and knowing full well you'd never be accepted into the army anyways.) Most people also claim in polls they would never cheat on their taxes.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

For all you statistical poo-pooers, please let us know what a statistically valid sample size would be. Show your math.

Do the math here? Ok 120 million plus Japanese people, with demographics leaning towards 1/3 of them being over 60 years old so odds are out of the 1000 people surveyed 300 plus were over 60 years old.

You call THAT a valid survey? There is no mention of the demographics, nothing, just that they asked 1000 people in each country. Need I go further?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Japan probably has the best educated population in the world and more or less the highest standard of living and peace having avoided war for 70 years so of course they are going to be highly skeptical of their government going to war. Of course the problem is these days countries don't need to have the population behind them in order to start and engage in war. I expect more would be willing to defend Japan against an actual invasion on Japanese soil (which would almost certainly never happen).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't beleive the polls. You can make them say whatever you want. It's all about the questions you ask, how you ask them, and when. If China attack a Japanese's boat tomorrow they poll would be the opposite just because it would mean fight against China. As for now, it's more about fightning in Syria...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You call THAT a valid survey? There is no mention of the demographics, nothing, just that they asked 1000 people in each country. Need I go further?

Yes, please go further. Tell me you looked at their methodology. But you didn't, did you?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, please go further.

You are the one complaining that people are down playing the statistics. You obviously seem to think it's valid, probably because it was taken by Gallup. Surveys and "findings" taken from said survey, based upon the numbers alone, should be taken with a grain of salt.

People taking surveys/polls today like to think that their methods are accurate and speak for an entire population, as in this case making the claim that only 11% of Japanese are willing to fight for their country. but in reality it's only 11% of the people who responded. Which is 110 people. Out of a country with over 120 million, the sampling can not be used as scientific "proof" that includes all of Japan.

You can do me the favor and take the time and research the methodology if you choose, it's not worth the time nor effort for me personally.

Anyone who takes things like this seriously, is gullible and probably thinks that if I told them that a survey I took showed that over 80% of the "people" I polled believe their is a man on the moon. Out of 100 people surveyed.

So I can now extrapolate that into saying 80% of "all" Japanese think their is a man on the moon. (Of course I didnt mention that I had just finished reading a fiction story , about the man on the moon, to three different classes of 4 year old children and then asked my "poll" question.) I influenced the results of the poll and I got the response I wanted so I could make the claim that I wanted to make and to justify and back up my "belief". Ever been polled? Pollsters often will lead people on when answering the poll questions. "Aren't you willing to die for your country?"

So until the information about the demographics of the poll are published along with the results, people should be taking a more critical look at the conclusions. Even with the demographics, it's still too small of a sampling to make a claim like here because there are cultural aspects that have to be taken into account as well.

Sounds to me like Gallup just got their folks in all these countries to randomly call people up, or stopped them on some street corner and asked people to cooperate in their survey.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

They surveyed 1000 people. Out of a population of 126 million. That's about 0.00007% of the population I believe.

So 11% of the 1000 respondents would be willing to fight for their country. This would be like Japan Today using one of their polls to say that X% of people support Y.

These kinds of irresponsible survey "results" really aggravate me. Misleading and sensationalist headline. Then again this has come to be expected i suppose.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You can do me the favor and take the time and research the methodology if you choose, it's not worth the time nor effort for me personally.

If it's not worth your time, then don't go around challenging statistics based on nothing more than personal ignorance.

A 1000-person representative sample is enough to give you a reasonably good indication of what you're sampling.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If this is an expression of deeply held pacifist beliefs, I admire it.

However, I suspect that actually a lot of young people might be thinking that the society and values they've been brought up with are not worth defending. If this is true, there needs to be a serious rethink of those values. At the moment, they are taught "work, obey, conform, consume". It's nihilistic materialism. They need more meaning from life, and that meaning will not come from nationalist ideology, which is the only thing being offered to fill the spiritual void in modern Japan.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If it's not worth your time, then don't go around challenging statistics based on nothing more than personal ignorance

Ignorance? Lol, flattery will get you no where. Interesting that you make comments like this but offer nothing in response other than saying it's a representative sample, which there is no proof nor evidence to support your supposition.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

which there is no proof nor evidence to support your supposition.

You made the claim

This group should make the effort and survey this age group, and not just 1,000, more like 10,000 or more, to get a better sampling. I'll bet the results are a heck of a lot different, as in lower than 11%.

Burden of proof is on you.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Burden of proof is on you.

Actually the burden of proof is on Gallup for taking such small numbers and extrapolating them to include ALL Japan.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Well, since reading this I have asked 43 Japanese people (men only). Not a single one said they would fight for Japan!

Honestly, I was a bit shocked!

I then asked them if they were on the train and if they were with their wife and she informed him that another man was grabbing her butt, then what would you do? Shockingly, 26 said they would do nothing!!! But they all said, they would get off at the next stop and wait for the next train.

The good thing all said they would fight to protect their family.

I also asked why wouldn't they fight to protect their country. The most common answer I got was simply, " I don't want to die."

As I previously posted on here, I am from the USA. I have worked as a police officer, so I fully understand the use and meaning of deadly force! I am not just saying, I would fight from the safety and comfort of my living room and not fully understanding what I am talking about, I do understand!

Please understand I am not wanting war! Absolutely not! I am just saying I would answer the "call of duty" if my service was required or requested.

I firmly feel to that regardless of where you are from as long as you have a vested interest in the country where you live, then one should feel honored to be ask or requested to protect such country.

If you are a foreigner just working in a foreign country on a short term basis, then I would say that such a person has no obligation or responsibility to answer a "call of duty".

I personally feel it's hard to respect a person that will not fight to protect their own country or family....

One last thing, I know that the number of men I asked is far follow to get a TRUE picture of all men in Japan, but this is what I found....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan 11% Germany 18%

Isn't this sort of result wanted?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Isn't this sort of result wanted?

No. Japanese should not rely on young american G.I.'s to defend Japan and areas surrounding it. Japanese need to step up their regional security without having to rely so much on the US.

The 11% reflects that Japanese guys don't care about their country.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No. Japanese should not rely on young american G.I.'s to defend Japan and areas surrounding it. Japanese need to step up their regional security without having to rely so much on the US.

Support Abe & Co then

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@DieReality. If you're a young Japanese guy, it's your civic duty to be concerned about Japan's security. Of course nobody wants to go to war. But don't be among the other 89% (sissy) who don't care about fighting for japan, if it came down to it.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No worry, I would die to protect this country and my family but I wouldn't necessarily blame 89% sissy for not figint for their country. I just wish I was young and strong enough to be sent ot the front line.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites