Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 11 - 17 [POLITICS]

NHK in opinion poll tries to make objections to war laws look smaller

The sole public broadcaster in Japan, NHK, apparently tried to give the general public the impression that opposition to the war legislation are diminishing.

NHK on its news program aired on November 10 reported that it conducted a survey early this month asking whether Japan needs some kind of security laws, and that 40% of respondents answered “Yes” while 21% answered “No”.

However, in the previous survey last month, the question was whether you approve the enactment of the security-related legislation. The results showed that the answer “No” (54%) overwhelmed the answer “Yes” (39%). Furthermore, nearly 60% of respondents in the same opinion poll expressed disagreement with the government explanation that the security legislation will increase Japan’s deterrent capability. The poll last month was clearly showing general public opposition to the war legislation.

NHK in the latest survey changed the question. NHK did not ask respondents if they approve the legislation but asked if some sort of security legislation is necessary. As a result, those who oppose the legislation looked as if they have become a minority.

Looking at other opinion polls conducted in November, a JNN TV network survey indicated that 51% of respondents objected to the enactment of the legislation, exceeding the percentage of those who approved the enactment. In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey, those who “disapproved” the establishment of the legislation accounted for 47% while 40% “approved”. In a TV audience survey conducted during a Fuji TV program, 65.7% of the audience said that the security-related legislation should be abolished. In contrast, the percentage of those who were in favor of the passage of the security legislation remained at only 34.4%.

NHK in the November survey may have attempted to cover up the fact that a majority of the public opposes the war laws.