Finding #2: Over time, the idea that the document was “MacArthur’s Constitution” seemed less relevant.
Year
Is the current constitution something MacArthur forced upon us?
1955
1956
1957
Yes
34
N/A
N/A
No
18
N/A
N/A
Neither
14
N/A
N/A
1958
1959
Is the current constitution something the US forced upon us?
31
31
30
32
Don't Know
14
N/A
N/A
20
Do you think the constitution is mainly created by the US or do you think the Japanese side was
the main drafter?
Mainly Japan
Ambivalent
Don't Know
1960
Mainly the United
States
33
16
20
17
1961
1962
1963
1965
22
21
21.7
27.9
5
5
5.1
22.9
5
6
5.7
17.7
2
3
3.2
13.6
The constitution was drafted during occupation after Japan's defeat. Do you think this is a
significant flaw of the constitution or do you think it can be dismissed?
1966
Significant Flaw
14.6
Can be Dismissed
28.7
Ambivalent
11.7
Don't Know
9.5
The constitution was drafted based on the proposal by the GHQ during occupation by the
Allied powers like the US and UK. Do you think this is a significant flaw of the constitution or
do you think it can be dismissed?
1967
1968*
Significant Flaw
Can be Dismissed
Ambivalent
Don't Know
12.9
13.4
13.9
30.9
30.5
31.2
10.2
12.8
11.1
9.5
10.9
9.8
*In 1968, the cabinet office surveyed two groups of people with the same questions and thus
provide two sets of numbers. This chart is made by authors based on the cabinet office polling
from 1955 to 1968.