A new OCTA Research survey has found that a large majority of adult Filipinos express trust in Japan, highlighting the strength of public confidence in the long-standing partnership between the two nations.
Commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, the survey was conducted from December 3 to 11, 2025, with 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above. Participants were asked: “How much does the Philippines trust Japan?”
Results showed that 79% of respondents said they “strongly trust” or “somewhat trust” Japan, while 17% were undecided and only 4% expressed distrust.
Trust also extended to the Japanese people themselves, with 74% of respondents expressing confidence in them, while 6% said they distrusted and 20% remained undecided.
Researchers noted that this goodwill reflects not only government-to-government ties but also interpersonal perceptions of Japanese citizens.
The survey further revealed that 70% of Filipinos described the relationship between the Philippines and Japan as “very good,” while 24% viewed it as neither good nor poor. Positive sentiment was consistent across regions and socioeconomic groups.
OCTA Research pointed to cultural exchanges, tourism, education partnerships, and the growing Filipino community in Japan as factors sustaining these favorable views.
The firm added that Philippine-Japan relations may currently be among the strongest in the history of the partnership.