CBS News/New York Times/Turner Broadcasting System Japan Poll, November 18-21, 1991

This survey, in addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency, focused on Japan and the Japanese. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George Bush's handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Other questions pertained to the amount of attention paid to news about Japan, descriptions of Americans and Japanese as competitive, easygoing, hardworking, lazy, courageous, cowardly, peaceloving, and warlike, relations between Japan and the United States, and the prospects for the future generation of Americans and Japanese. Respondents were also asked if most Japanese respect Americans and vice versa, and if Japan should be viewed as a dependable ally for the United States in the future and vice versa. Other queries centered around whether the increase in Japanese investment in the United States posed a threat to American economic independence, whether Japan had become a world power and should assume responsibilities toward other countries, and whether Japan should act as a leader in the world economy even if it required economic sacrifice on Japan's part. Those surveyed were also asked about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan by the United States, the impetus behind Japan's involvement in World War II, Japan's present military strength, and whether the treaty calling for Japan's provision of bases for United States military forces in return for the United States' defense of Japan should be continued. Additional issues pertaining to Japan and the United States included the question of economic aid to the Soviet Union, military assistance to other countries, whether the United States should have sent troops to fight in the Persian Gulf, and if Japan should have done more to help to defeat Iraq during the war. Other topics included the field of candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination and holiday spending habits. Background information on respondents included labor union membership, political party preference, political orientation, religious preference, education, age, race, and family income.