Ranking of TOP 20 pro-Japan countries! We also explain each country's relationship with Japan!

As globalization continues to advance, isn't there a concern about "Japan's position in the world"?

In particular, knowing about countries that like Japan, or so-called "pro-Japan countries," will be useful for various purposes, such as determining travel destinations and capturing inbound demand.

Therefore, in this article, we will introduce our own "pro-Japan country rankings" compiled by this website.

What is the pro-Japan level for each region?

While it is important to know the specific pro-Japan countries, it is also important to know the pro-Japan level of each major region or country.

Here, we have compiled information related to pro-Japanese sentiment using statistical data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' annual "Public Opinion Survey on Japan Abroad.

In the table below,

• U.S.A.

• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

• India

• Australia

• India, Australia, and seven Latin American countries

For,

• Are they friendly?

• Are they trustworthy or not?

and the percentage of those who answered "yes" are summarized below.

Source: Overseas public opinion polls on Japan

※ASEAN: 10 countries: Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos

※Latin America: 7 countries: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago

As you can see, in the U.S., the country most familiar to Japan, just under 90% of the respondents answered that they have a friendly relationship with the U.S. and that they trust the U.S.

On the other hand, it may be a little surprising that the Southeast Asian countries ASEAN and India have higher levels of pro-Japan sentiment than the U.S.

Top 20 Pro-Japan Countries Ranking

From here, we will introduce the top 20 ranking of pro-Japan countries.

Let's check them in order from No. 1.

No. 1: Thailand

Among the many pro-Japan countries in ASEAN, Thailand has the highest degree of pro-Japan relations.

The biggest reason for its pro-Japan status is not only tourism, but also deep cultural exchange due to the centuries-long friendship between the two countries.

In particular, anime is very popular in Thailand, and many Thai people are learning Japanese in order to enjoy anime more.

No. 2: Indonesia

Indonesia is also known as one of the most pro-Japan countries.

Postwar economic ties and infrastructure development have deepened the relationship, and today, Indonesia is characterized by its familiarity with Japan in terms of anime, manga, and other cultural aspects.

No. 3: Taiwan

Taiwan, an undisputed pro-Japan country, ranks third.

As indicated by the fact that Taiwan was the first country to express its support when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, Taiwan is characterized by extremely strong ties not only on the private sector level but also on the national level.

Because of its geographical proximity, Taiwan has always been a popular travel destination for both countries.

No. 4: The Philippines

Like other ASEAN countries, the Philippines is known as a pro-Japan country due to the friendly relations it has enjoyed since the end of World War II.

Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) and disaster relief are highly valued by both the public and private sectors, and Japanese companies are very active in the country.

The popularity of anime and Japanese food also contributes to the pro-Japan sentiment, and the country is expected to remain one of the most pro-Japan countries in the future.

No. 5: Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the countries in the ASEAN region that has a particularly strong relationship with Japan in terms of economic and human exchange.

In particular, there are a great many technical intern trainees dispatched from Vietnam, who learn experience and skills in Japan before returning to their home countries.

If they come to love Japan after being exposed to Japanese food and culture, they are likely to become even more pro-Japanese in the future.

No. 6: Singapore

Singapore, famous for its Merlion, is also known as a pro-Japan country.

Like other ASEAN countries, Singapore is known for the popularity of anime and manga, as well as Japanese food.

There are many Japanese restaurants in this small country, and there is no end to the number of tourists who come to Singapore for Japanese food.

No. 7: Malaysia

Like other ASEAN countries, Malaysia has very strong economic and cultural ties.

Due to its rapid economic growth in recent years, the number of visitors to Japan from Malaysia is expected to increase in the future.

Another feature is the popularity of Japanese cosmetics and salons among ASEAN countries.

No. 8: The United States

The ties between countries are extremely strong, and the U.S. has a relationship with Japan that goes beyond the framework of a "pro-Japan" country.

It is unquestionably Japan's greatest ally, and exchange is active in all kinds of areas, including the economy, culture, and food.

The ties between the two countries will not be broken in the future.

No. 9: France

France is known as one of the most pro-Japan countries in Europe.

The greatest feature of this country is its high regard for Japanese anime and manga, or so-called "Japanimation.

There are many French people who go beyond mere fans and can be described as "fanatics," and their love for Japan is unrivaled by any other European country.

No. 10: Australia

Famous for its kangaroos and koalas, Australia has a thriving exchange of young people from both countries in the form of "working holidays.

Another feature is the popularity of uniquely Australian scenery and activities, such as cherry blossoms and winter sports.

On the national level, imports of coal, iron ore, natural gas, and other commodities from Australia, which is rich in natural resources, are thriving, and many Japanese companies have established operations here.

No. 11: Brazil

Since many Japanese moved to Brazil in the early 20th century, many "Brazilians of Japanese descent" have been living in Brazil.

As a result, ties at the level of daily life, such as food culture, are extremely strong, and ties between the two countries are so strong that they cannot be described simply within the framework of "pro-Japanese" relations.

The strong human exchange in world-class sports, such as soccer and volleyball, is also a unique characteristic of Brazil.

This is a feature not seen in other countries.

12th: Canada

Canada, a neighbor of the U.S., is another country that is becoming increasingly pro-Japanese year by year.

Following in the footsteps of the U.S., many Japanese restaurants serving sushi, ramen, and other Japanese food can be found in urban areas, and Japanese culture is steadily spreading.

No. 13: Mexico

Mexico is not well known in Japan, but the degree of pro-Japanese sentiment is one of the highest in the world.

Mexico has strong ties with Japan, especially in the areas of automobiles and electrical appliances, and like other pro-Japan countries, it has a very high reputation for "Made in Japan" products.

No. 14: Italy

Italy always ranks high on the list of destinations for Japanese travelers to Europe, and there is no end to the number of tourists coming to Japan from Italy.

Italy's unique gastronomy and nature-loving cultural aspects have led to an interest in Japanese food and the four seasons.

No. 15: Germany

Germany, which has long had strong ties at the national level, is another pro-Japan country.

Strong ties exist in the automotive, machinery, and chemical trades, and companies from both countries are active participants in each other's businesses.

16th: New Zealand

New Zealand, in the Oceania region, is a pro-Japan country with strong ties to Japan in the fisheries sector.

It is also a country with ongoing economic development and active investment from Japan.

Of course, Japanese culture is highly recognized in New Zealand, and as in Australia, human exchange through working holiday programs is also very active.

17th: South Korea

Korea is a very difficult country to evaluate from the perspective of "pro-Japan".

It is hard to say what the relationship between the two countries is like, but ties at least on the private level are very strong.

The number of travelers between the two countries is among the highest in the world, not to mention the cultural ties.

Korea is a country that is both "pro-Japan" and "anti-Japan," and both countries will continue to have strong relations with each other at the private level.

No. 18: The Netherlands

Known as the only country with which Japan maintained diplomatic relations during the period of national isolation, the Netherlands is one of the most pro-Japan countries in Europe.

In addition to cultural exchange, the Netherlands is also active in business and academic exchanges, with many personal exchanges taking place in the form of joint research and internships.

No. 19: The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has strong historical ties with Japan and has always been pro-Japanese.

The longstanding friendship between the two countries in the form of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance is one of the characteristics of the relationship between the two countries, which is not seen in other countries, not only at the national level, but also between the "Imperial Family and the British Royal Family.

No. 20: Sweden

Sweden, which consistently ranks high in the happiness ranking, is another pro-Japanese country that should not be forgotten.

Like other European countries, it is known for its appreciation of Japanese culture, as well as for its active "sister city" exchanges between local governments.

Conclusion

In this report, we have introduced 20 pro-Japan countries in a ranking format.

I hope you have been able to realize once again that Japan is loved by many countries.

We would like to continue to strive to be such a country that more countries can be pro-Japan in the future.