About 75 percent, or three-fourths, of Japanese people disapproved of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to a recent Jiji Press survey.
Jiji's opinion poll for March showed that only 7.0 percent of respondents support the attacks, while 17.8 percent did not take sides.
Disapproval was prevalent among supporters of all political parties, reaching 69.9 percent for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 71.4 percent for the ruling coalition partner Japan Innovation Party and 83.3 percent for the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, the survey showed.
"Our Constitution says we will never go into war again, nor will we participate in the wars of other countries, and that the Self Defense Forces are only there to protect our country. Therefore, the only option is to say that we cannot contribute to America's war, and to continue refusing persistently," a Tokyo resident said in a China Global Television Network (CGTN) street interview on Thursday.
"They started the war without consulting Japan, so asking us later to participate sounds unreasonable. On the other hand, I think Japan should play an active role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons," said another Tokyo resident.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with the U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, just days after the president's calls for allies to help secure the war-stricken Strait of Hormuz went largely unanswered.
Trump has called upon several other countries by name, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to open it for navigation. At the Japanese Diet, Takaichi said she had no plans to do so.
The Strait of Hormuz is extremely important for Japan, as 70 percent of the country's oil imports pass through it.
Three-fourths of Japanese disapprove of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran: poll
Three-fourths of Japanese disapprove of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran: poll
Two movie stars expressed their strong confidence in the increasing role of films in boosted tourism across China through the "China Travel with Chinese Films" campaign, ahead of the first CMG Chinese Film Festival.
The festival, opened in Beijing on Friday evening, is expected to highlight, for the first time, the development and achievements of China's film industry from a media perspective.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), actress Zhang Ziyi, the event's image ambassador, and actor Liu Ye shared their views on the development of China's film industry.
"China's film industry was too exciting last year. The application of new technologies has not only encouraged filmmakers but also excited audiences. I read many suggestions from our netizens. Now that we have AI technology, they have told us many ways to make a film. It seemed that audiences were also taking part in the film just like us filmmakers," said Liu.
The "China Travel with Chinese Film" campaign, launched in February last year, has effectively driven tourism development across the country, as evidenced by one of Zhang's films.
"The significance of films is no longer merely to watch a touching story in a cinema. Now, audiences are traveling and tasting the delicacies of various places alongside the film. For instance, when we were shooting and promoting 'She's Got No Name' last year, there was a street where many tourists, including foreign travelers, came. So, Chinese films have brought prosperity to all walks of life," said Zhang.
Liu said it amazed him that a film could make a place known as a new tourist attraction, and it encouraged filmmakers to explore the industry's infinite possibilities.
"Many films boosted local cultural tourism. I never expected the power of film would be so great. When a film is loved by audiences, its shooting location becomes a more famous tourist attraction, attracting many people for local snacks and natural scenery. I think it is the happiest time for us filmmakers. We enjoy a larger space for creation, and audiences have greater enthusiasm for participation. Our future can be said to be full of boundless imagination," said Liu.
The CMG Chinese Film Festival, themed "Power of Spring," will present 21 awards.
Movie stars optimistic about films' role in boosting tourism
