via GRAPHIC PLUS — The OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa (TNM) Q4 2025 nationwide survey indicates that Japan enjoys exceptionally strong public trust among Filipinos. At the national level, 79% of Filipinos trust in Japan, while only 4% express distrust.

In addition, approximately 75% of respondents say they trust the Japanese people, and about 70% describe relations between the Philippines and Japan as “very good” suggesting that Philippine-Japan relations remain stable and strong. These results also suggest that Japan consistently ranks among the Philippines’ most trusted international partners and enjoys a uniquely favorable position in Philippine public opinion.

The survey also shows that positive perceptions of Japan are broadly shared across Philippine society. Favorable attitudes toward Japan are observed across Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as across socioeconomic classes. The findings also highlight the importance of people-to-people ties in shaping public perceptions. Cultural exchanges, tourism, educational cooperation, and the growing Filipino community in Japan contribute to familiarity and mutual goodwill between the two societies, reinforcing positive views of Japan beyond formal diplomatic relations.

Viewed in the context of more than 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan, the survey findings suggest that the partnership has matured into one supported not only by diplomatic and economic cooperation but also by strong public confidence and social familiarity. Philippine–Japan relations may therefore be at one of their strongest points in the history of the partnership, continuing to broaden and deepen across economic, cultural, and strategic domains.

More fundamentally, the enduring strength of Philippines–Japan relations rests not merely on converging strategic interests, but on a foundation of shared democratic values, mutual respect, and a common vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Over more than seventy-five years of engagement, sustained cooperation and expanding people-to-people ties have fostered a deep reservoir of trust between the two societies. In this sense, the Philippines–Japan partnership stands not simply as a strategic alignment, but as a durable friendship of choice—one that continues to deepen as both nations work together to advance stability, cooperation, and shared progress in the region and the wider world.
Key Findings

Japan Enjoys Exceptionally High Public Trust Among Filipinos
Nearly eight in ten Filipinos (79%) express trust in Japan, while only 4% express distrust, indicating one of the highest levels of international trust recorded in recent OCTA Research surveys. This trust is broadly distributed across regions, age groups, and socioeconomic classes, suggesting that positive perceptions of Japan are deeply embedded in Philippine public opinion.

Filipinos Also Express Strong Trust in the Japanese People
Trust toward the people of Japan is similarly high, with 74% of Filipinos expressing trust and only 6% expressing distrust. This indicates that goodwill toward Japan is not limited to government or policy relations but extends to interpersonal perceptions of Japanese citizens, reinforcing the social dimension of the bilateral relationship.

Philippine–Japan Relations Are Widely Viewed as Strong and Stable
Around seven in ten Filipinos describe relations between the Philippines and Japan as “very good,” indicating broad public confidence in the partnership. Positive evaluations are consistent across regions and socioeconomic groups, suggesting that the bilateral relationship enjoys national-level legitimacy and social acceptance among the Filipino public.

Public Trust in Japan Extends Across Philippine Society
Positive attitudes toward Japan are remarkably consistent across geographic regions, income groups, and demographic segments. High trust levels are observed across Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as across Classes ABC, D, and E, indicating that favorable views toward Japan are broad-based.