About the UTokyo-Asahi Survey
The UTokyo-Asahi Survey (UTAS) is a collaborative project between Professor Masaki Taniguchi of the University of Tokyo and the Asahi Shimbun. Since 2003, UTAS has conducted both voter and political leader surveys during elections for the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
By incorporating many questions common to both voter and political leader surveys, UTAS enables direct comparisons between the political attitudes of voters and leaders. It also repeats a substantial number of questions across survey waves, allowing for longitudinal analysis of changes in these attitudes over time. While most political leader surveys struggle with low response rates, UTAS has addressed this challenge through collaboration with one of Japan’s largest national newspapers, achieving a valid response rate of over 90% from electoral candidates.
Anyone can download the data for free without applying for use. However, you must agree to the following conditions:
- The use of this data is for academic purposes only.
- When you publish a paper using UTAS, clearly state the source of the data and send a copy to taniguchi[at]j.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
- The copyright of the data, codebooks, and reports belongs to the researchers. Redistribution or reprinting without permission is prohibited.
- The data will be updated without notice. We do not provide support for downloading or analyzing the data.
All surveys were conducted in Japanese. In case where any differences occur between the English version and the original Japanese version, the Japanese version shall prevail.
Official Publications
In addition to the articles in the Asahi Shimbun, the official reports of the research team's analysis are as follows (* in Japanese):
- Taniguchi Masaki, Democracy in Japan: The Logic of One-Party Dominance, New York: SUNY Press, forthcoming.
- Taniguchi Masaki, Representative Democracy in Japan: Voters and Politicians, Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 2020.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Asano Takaaki, and Omori Shoko, "The 2022 House of Councilors Election: Voters Shifted Rightward,"Sekai 962: 142-151, 2022.*
- Asano Takaaki, Kaneko Tomoki, Omori Shoko, Takamiya Shusuke, and Taniguchi Masaki, "Predictable Crises Shape Public Opinion: Evidence from the COVID-19 Natural Experiment," Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties 31(S1): 311-320.
- Taniguchi Masaki, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke, Tsukiyama Hiroki, Asano Takaaki, and Kawaguchi Hirofumi, "The 2017 UTokyo-Asahi Survey," Kokka Gakkai Zasshi : 131(9-10): 51-81.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Tsukiyama Hiroki, Kaneko Tomoki, and Takamiya Shusuke, "The 2016 House of Councilors Election: Abe’s Political Savings," Sekai 887: 119-127, 2016.*
- Taniguchi Masaki and Miwa Hirofumi. "The 2014 General Election: LDP’s Landslide Victory without Enthusiasm," Sekai 867: 188-197, 2015.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Umeda Michio, Sohn Jeyong, and Miwa Hirofumi, "The 2012 General Election and the 2013 House of Councilors Election: Where Have the DPJ Voters Gone?" Sekai 849: 220-229, 2013.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Sakaiya Shiro, Okawa Chihiro, and Uenohara Hideaki, "The 2010 House of Councilors Election: Cold Winds Blowing on the DPJ," Sekai 809: 58-69, 2010.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Uenohara Hidekai, and Sakaiya Shiro, "The 2009 General Election: Who Ended the LDP’s Reign?" Sekai 798: 74-84, 2009.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Uenohara Hidekai, and Okawa Chihiro, "The 2007 House of Councilors Election: Blind Spots of Abe and Challenges for the Next Administration," Ronza 150: 50-61, 2007.*
- Taniguchi Masaki, Kabashima Ikuo, and Sugawara Taku, "The 2005 General Election: Soft Reformers Swung to the LDP," Ronza 126: 93-104, 2005.*
- Sugawara Taku, Taniguchi Masaki, and Kabashima Ikuo, "The 'Dove' Escaped from the LDP," Ronza 114: 224-237, 2004.*
- Kabashima Ikuo, Taniguchi Masaki, and Sugawara Taku, "The Limit of Koizumi's Magic?" Ronza 108: 18-34, 2004.*
Project Team
Voter Survey
| Year | Principal Investigators | Project Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kabashima Ikuo Taniguchi Masaki |
Sugawara Taku | |
| 2004 | |||
| 2005 | |||
| 2007 | Taniguchi Masaki | Uenohara Hideaki | |
| 2009 | |||
| 2010 | Okawa Chihiro, Uenohara Hideaki | ||
| 2012 | Umeda Michio, Kawaguchi Hirofumi, Sohn Jeyong, Miwa Hirofumi | ||
| 2013 | Umeda Michio, Sohn Jeyong, Miwa Hirofumi | ||
| 2014 | Miwa Hirofumi | ||
| 2016 | Tsukiyama Hiroki, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke | ||
| 2017 | Tsukiyama Hiroki, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke, Kawaguchi Hirofumi, Asano Takaaki | ||
| 2020 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke | ||
| Associate Investigators | Research Administrators | ||
| 2022 | Omori Shoko, Asano Takaaki | Hara Fumisato, Takamiya Shusuke | |
| 2023 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko | Takamiya Shusuke | |
| 2025 | Omori Shoko, Asano Takaaki, Takamiya Shusuke |
Mayanagi Hayato, Nishida Naofumi, Chang Rueihsuan, Sogabe Sayaka, Sasaki Dai |
|
Political Leader Survey
| Year | Principal Investigators | Project Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Kabashima Ikuo | Yamamoto Koji | |
| 2004 | |||
| 2005 | |||
| 2007 | Taniguchi Masaki | Okawa Chihiro | |
| 2008 | |||
| 2009 | Sakaiya Shiro | ||
| 2010 | |||
| 2012 | Umeda Michio, Kawaguchi Hirofumi, Sohn Jeyong | ||
| 2013 | Umeda Michio, Sohn Jeyong, Miwa Hirofumi | ||
| 2014 | Miwa Hirofumi | ||
| 2016 | Tsukiyama Hiroki, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke | ||
| 2017 | Tsukiyama Hiroki, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke, Kawaguchi Hirofumi, Asano Takaaki | ||
| 2019 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke | ||
| 2021 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko, Kaneko Tomoki, Takamiya Shusuke, Hara Fumisato | ||
| Associate Investigators | Research Administrators | ||
| 2022 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko | Hara Fumisato, Takamiya Shusuke | |
| 2024 | Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko, Takamiya Shusuke |
Mayanagi Hayato, Nishida Naofumi, Chang Rueihsuan, Sogabe Sayaka, Sasaki Dai |
|
| 2025 | Takamiya Shusuke, Asano Takaaki, Omori Shoko |
Mayanagi Hayato, Nishida Naofumi, Chang Rueihsuan, Sogabe Sayaka, Sasaki Dai |
|
2025 HoC Election
Voter Survey (conducted in 2026)
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook (Japanese): | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2024 HoR Election
Voter Survey (conducted in 2025)
| Codebook (Japanese): | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2022 HoC Election
Voter Survey (conducted in 2023)
| Codebook (Japanese): | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook (Japanese): | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2021 HoR Election
Voter Survey (conducted in 2022)
| Codebook (Japanese): | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2019 HoC Election
Voter Survey (conducted in 2020)
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2017 HoR Election
Voter Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2016 HoC Election
Voter Survey
See the 2014 HoR Election.
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2014 HoR Election
Voter Survey
Two-wave panel survey of the 2014 HoR Election and the 2016 HoC Election.| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2013 HoC Election
Voter Survey
See the 2012 HoR Election.
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2012 HoR Election
Voter Survey
Two-wave panel survey of the 2012 HoR Election and the 2013 HoC Election.| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2010 HoC Election
Voter Survey
See the 2009 HoR Election.
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2009 HoR Election
Voter Survey
Two-wave panel survey of the 2009 HoR Election and the 2010 HoC Election.| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | Download |
| Data: | Download |
2007 HoC Election
Voter Survey
Three-wave panel survey of pre-election and post-election.| Codebook: | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 5(1-2). |
| Data: | Download |
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 5(1-2). |
| Data: | Download |
2005 HoR Election
Voter Survey
See the 2003 HoR Election.
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook: | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 5(1-2). |
| Data: | Download (SPSS) |
| Download (csv) |
2004 HoC Election
Voter Survey
See the 2003 HoR Election.
Political Leader Survey
| Codebook(Q1-Q9): | Download |
| Codebook(Q10, Q11): | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 5(1-2). |
| Data: | Download |
Codebook errata
| Page | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| 304 Party | Midori no To | Midori no Kaigi |
| 303 Age | 51:14, 52:15 | 51:13, 52:16 |
| 302 Q10-1 | defense | defence |
2003 HoR Election
Voter Survey
Four-wave panel survey of September 2003, the 2003 HoR Election, the 2004 HoC Election, and the 2005 HoR Election.| Codebook: | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 2(1) and 3(1). |
| Data: | Download |
Note: Multiple responses and responses checked between choices might be coded in "0.5" units. If there is an inconsistency between the answers (e.g., a person who abstained answered the party he/she voted for, or the parties a person supports and rejects are same), it is entered as is.
Political Leader Survey
(1)Incumbents (conducted in July), (2)2003 HoR election candidates| Codebook: | See Nihon Seiji Kenkyu [Japanese Political Studies] 2(2). |
| Data (1)： | Download |
| Data (2)： | Download |
Codebook errata
| Page | Error | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| 205 F2: Age | f010100 | f010200 |
| 205 F2: Age | (No Code) | 1: 20-24...8: 70+ |