An opinion poll shows that an increasing number of Japanese have unfavorable impressions of South Korea, while a high ratio of South Koreans continue to have negative feelings about Japan.
A Japanese non-profit organization, the Genron NPO, and the East Asia Institute of South Korea jointly conducted the survey in May and June. About 1,000 people in each nation gave valid responses.
54 percent of respondents in Japan said they have an unfavorable or relatively unfavorable impression of South Korea. That's up 17 points from about a year ago.
The number of those who said they have a favorable or relatively favorable impression decreased by 11 points, to 21 percent.
In South Korea, those with an unfavorable or relatively unfavorable impression of Japan fell by 6 points, to 71 percent.
Those with favorable or relatively favorable views increased slightly, to 18 percent.
As for reasons for respondents' unfavorable impressions, the largest number cited historical issues. In Japan, 74 percent said South Koreans keep criticizing Japan over views of history and other issues. 77 percent in South Korea said Japanese have failed to properly reflect on their past aggression toward South Korea.
Next came a territorial dispute over islands in the Sea of Japan known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.
42 percent in Japan cited the issue, compared to 72 percent in South Korea. South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them.
Asked if bilateral relations are important, 60 percent of respondents in Japan and 73 percent in South Korea said yes.
In Japan, 37 percent said the 2 nations' leaders should hold a summit soon. 14 percent shared the view in South Korea.
47 percent in Japan said such a summit is not urgent or that it is unnecessary. The figure for South Korea was 81 percent.
Genron NPO President Yasushi Kudo said the results show that many people in the 2 nations put importance on each other and are concerned about the current situation.
He called for deepening mutual understanding through private-sector dialogue. Jul. 10, 2014 - Updated 09:48 UTC