72 Pct in Japan See Need to Save Energy: Jiji Poll

Tokyo, April 16 (Jiji Press)–A Jiji Press opinion poll for April showed Thursday that 72.6 pct of respondents believe that it is necessary to save electricity and other forms of energy in response to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping chokepoint. In the poll, conducted for four days through Monday, 11.6 pct said they did not feel the need, while 15.8 pct were uncertain. The survey also showed that 40.0 pct opposed a possible dispatch of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while 33.9 pct supported sending SDF troops for such a mission after a ceasefire and 9.8 pct before a ceasefire. The share of respondents who picked none of the three options or said they were unsure stood at 16.3 pct. Among supporters of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s cabinet, 38.2 pct favored a dispatch after a ceasefire and 11.1 pct before a ceasefire, while 36.9 pct opposed sending SDF troops. Among those who do not support the cabinet, 54.0 pct said SDF personnel should not be dispatched, 27.4 pct supported a dispatch after a ceasefire, and 9.3 pct before a ceasefire. Regarding the Japanese government’s stance of avoiding a legal assessment of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, 31.4 pct backed the government’s policy, while 30.5 pct opposed it. The largest group of respondents, or 38.1 pct, said they were undecided or unsure. The interview survey was conducted with 2,000 people aged 18 or older nationwide. Valid responses came from 58.8 pct of them. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]