A new survey shows 82 percent of Japanese feel compatible with Americans. The figure is the highest since the first such survey was held in 1978.

The Cabinet Office surveyed 3,000 people aged 20 or older nationwide from the end of September to the middle of October. 63.7 percent of them responded.

On relations with the United States, 41.4 percent said they feel close to Americans while 40.5 percent said they do to some extent. The figure has increased by about 2 percentage points since last year.

15.5 percent said they do not feel close to Americans. The figure is the lowest ever.

The Foreign Ministry said the results point to the fact that many Japanese remember the US military's support and efforts in the wake of the March 11th disaster and have formed an empathic connection with Americans.

Meanwhile, on relations with China, 26.3 percent said they have a positive impression on China, an increase of about 6 percentage points since last year. The number of people who feel positive about the ties with China has increased by more than 10 percent to 18.8 percent.

71.4 percent said they do not feel any friendliness toward China. The figure is about 6 percentage points lower than last year.

The ministry said Japanese feelings toward China briefly deteriorated following last September's collision between a Chinese trawler and 2 Japanese Coast Guard ships near Japan's Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.

But it added that more people appear to have a favorable impression of China as tensions have eased between the 2 countries.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20111203_19.html

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