Political Attitudes in Tokyo, Japan, 1958

This was the first in a series of studies conducted by the Social Research Institute of Tokyo on the political attitudes of the voting population of metropolitan Tokyo (see also ICPSR 7069 and 7070). Following an assessment of their political party preferences and degree of party support, the respondents were asked to evaluate the three major political parties by rating party activities, ideologies, platforms, and representativeness of voter interests. The position of the Communist Party in Japan was also explored. Variables probed respondents' satisfaction with the state of politics in Japan, their views on means of political action and changing the Japanese government and constitution, and their attitudes toward political participation. Foreign relations were explored through questions about Japan's position in the world and particularly about diplomatic problems with the United States, the Soviet Union, and Korea. Demographic data cover sex, age, occupation, education, standard of living, and labor union membership.