Which neighboring country do Japanese people feel most positively toward? A South Korean user recently posed the question to Japanese users on X, listing South Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, and the Philippines as five countries geographically close to Japan. The poster predicted that, if forced to choose just one, more than 90% of Japanese respondents would pick South Korea.
The replies, however, were nothing like the original poster expected. Many Japanese users said they would choose Taiwan without hesitation. Some even argued that if the question were put to a nationwide vote in Japan, Taiwan would likely receive majority support. The exchange soon became a talking point across Japanese and South Korean social media.
The South Korean user asked Japanese users to choose among South Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, and the Philippines. The poster argued that South Korea was the closest to Japan in ethnic, political, economic, and cultural terms, predicting that more than 90% of Japanese people would select South Korea if limited to those five choices.
When the original poster suggested that Japan valued Taiwan mainly because of its strategic military position, Japanese users pushed back, saying their affection for Taiwan was not based solely on political or military considerations.
Some respondents said many Japanese people appreciate the calm, rational outlook and friendliness they associate with Taiwanese people. Taiwan and Japan have also repeatedly supported each other during natural disasters, building years of mutual exchange, trust, and goodwill.
Others said that if the entire Japanese population were asked to vote, Taiwan would undoubtedly come out on top—and might even secure more than half the vote.
Another user noted that most Japanese people do not view international relationships through a military lens in their everyday lives. Taiwan has donated substantial sums following earthquakes in Japan, while also publicly sharing medical equipment designs free of charge and donating medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. For these Japanese users, if they could choose only one of the five, Taiwan was the obvious answer.
Japanese users in the discussion also described Taiwan and Japan as longtime friends, saying the relationship did not need to be proven through comparisons or competition.
Some suggested that Japan’s former colonial rule of Taiwan may have contributed to certain shared values. They added that Taiwanese people generally do not constantly compare the two places’ development or repeatedly boast about surpassing Japan. In their view, that makes it easier for Japanese and Taiwanese people to build friendly relationships.
One user also stressed that the relationship between Taiwan and Japan was not hierarchical, but a friendship between equals. Rather than calling Taiwan a “brother,” the user preferred to describe it as a relative or a longtime close friend, arguing that the word “brother” can sometimes imply a difference in status. Instead, the user wanted Taiwan to be respected as independent and equal.
The original poster appeared unconvinced by the responses and repeatedly asked, “Putting politics aside, on an instinctive level, who feels closer to Japanese people: South Koreans or Taiwanese people?”
When someone answered Taiwan, the poster countered that large numbers of Japanese tourists visit South Korea and claimed never to have seen statistics showing more Japanese travelers visiting Taiwan than South Korea. The poster then questioned whether the Japanese respondents were simply playing coy rather than expressing their true feelings.
Japanese users were not persuaded. They argued that outbound travel figures are shaped by factors such as transportation convenience and price, making them an unreliable measure of public sentiment.
Another Japanese user argued that one major difference between Taiwanese and South Korean people was the tendency to make comparisons. According to the user, South Koreans often say things like “We beat Japan!” or “We surpassed Japan!” and hearing such statements naturally leaves a negative impression.
By contrast, the user said Taiwanese people do not constantly make comparisons or deliberately show off. As a result, many Japanese people feel they could become good friends with Taiwanese people.
A South Korean user also shared previously published data from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among nearby Asian destinations, Taiwan ranked overwhelmingly first, receiving support from roughly 40% to 50% of respondents. The reasons cited included Taiwan’s proximity to Japan, its generally welcoming attitude toward Japanese visitors, its public safety, and its appealing food culture, all of which make it a popular travel choice.
The discussion also sparked arguments over history. Some Japanese users said public perceptions of South Korea and China had been shaped, at least in part, by past anti-Japanese movements. Taiwan, by comparison, has maintained a friendlier attitude toward Japan over the years, making it more likely to receive a positive response from Japanese people.
Overall, the post began as an attempt to confirm whether Japanese people liked South Korea most, only for the replies to swing heavily toward Taiwan. The Philippines also received a surprising amount of praise. The responses highlighted the strength of the goodwill many Japanese people feel toward Taiwan—a bond shaped not only by historical and cultural connections, but also by the assistance both sides have provided each other during times of crisis.
via： X@X_DigiEmpire