A new public opinion poll released on the eve of the US midterm elections indicates that while few Japanese favour President Donald Trump’s policies, most say they wish Japan had a “strong” head of state who could make difficult decisions.
Analysts suggest that while many Japanese believe a strong leader will stand up for the nation on the world stage and not shy away from bold policies, this does not mean they want someone with the bombast, showmanship and arrogance associated with Trump.
According to the poll, released on Tuesday by Tokyo Broadcasting System News, just 23.1 per cent of the 3,544 people interviewed expressed “sympathy” for the Trump administration’s policies and political positions. Some 38.7 per cent were strongly opposed to the present White House’s policies.