Japanese Poll: 76% of Respondents Support Maintaining the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles"

The Tokyo Shimbun, citing a national poll conducted by the Kyodo News-affiliated survey organization from June to July among 3,000 people aged 18 and above, reported that 76% of Japanese support maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles of “not manufacturing, not possessing, and not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons”; 77% oppose “nuclear-sharing” arrangements (i.e., the U.S. stationing nuclear weapons in Japan and operating them jointly). Given that Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bombing in war, the results highlight strong anti-nuclear sentiment, while debate over whether to revise the principles is intensifying. Support for Japan joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons before the first review conference in November stands at 55%, down 5 percentage points from the previous year; opponents account for 42%, of whom 56% believe that joining would not lead to nuclear disarmament.

Regarding recent U.S. actions, a combined 90% of respondents oppose U.S. military action against Iran and Venezuela; 44% believe the Japanese government should “express concern” over a U.S. strike on Iran, while 34% consider its response of “neither supporting nor criticizing” appropriate. 63% believe there is a “high/medium” probability of nuclear weapons being used in war over the next 10 years (down 9 points from 2024), and 33% believe Japan has a “high/medium” probability of being drawn into war (down 2 points year-on-year). 86% view Japan as a peaceful nation, of whom 31% say peace diplomacy needs to be strengthened to maintain its status as a “nation that does not wage war.”

Regarding the government's April lifting of the ban on lethal weapons exports, 36% advocate restricting exports to non-lethal equipment even for allies, while a combined 53% believe the original ban should be maintained or the policy should be revisited. The survey was conducted by the Kyodo News-affiliated national public opinion research organization from June to July, targeting 3,000 citizens aged 18 and above.