MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipinos are satisfied with the Philippines' strategic ties with Japan, with nearly four in five expressing "strong trust," a recent survey showed. It found that Japan is among the countries Filipinos trust the most, with 70% rating the partnership as "very good." Trust in Japan (as a country) Q: How much does the Philippines trust Japan? (OCTA Research) 79% Strongly trust / somewhat trust 17% Can't say / undecided 4% Strongly distrust / somewhat distrust Source: OCTA Research (fieldwork: 3–11 Dec 2025). Trust in Japanese peopleSimilar to the institutional trust Japan enjoys from Filipinos, the survey found that nearly three in four Filipinos also trust Japanese nationals, with the highest levels of trust reported in Mindanao (87%) and Balance Luzon (73%), including among lower-income groups (73%) and older Filipinos.

Source: Philippine Star March 16, 2026 09:48 UTC