By Florenda Corpuz
TOKYO/MANILA – Filipinos’ strong trust in Japan, as shown in a recent survey conducted in the Philippines, is also reflected in the experiences of many Pinoys living and working in the country.
A December 2025 nationwide survey by OCTA Research found that 79 percent of Filipinos trust Japan, while only 4 percent said they do not. The survey was commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.
The survey was conducted from Dec. 3 to 11 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
It also found that 74 percent of respondents said they trust the Japanese people, suggesting that positive perceptions extend beyond government relations to everyday interactions.
While the survey reflects public opinion in the Philippines, some Filipinos in Japan said the results match what they experience in their daily lives.
Maria Santos, 51, a Filipino caregiver in Tokyo who has worked in the sector for five years, said trust develops through consistent and respectful interactions in the workplace.
“They [Japanese] are professional and they treat you with respect. Once you understand how they work, it becomes easier to adjust and trust them,” she told Filipino-Japanese Journal.
Similar experiences are shared by Filipinos working in caregiving, manufacturing and service industries, where structured work environments and clear expectations often help workers feel secure.
At the same time, some said building deeper relationships outside the workplace can take time.
“At work, everything is clear and organized, so you feel secure. But outside of work, it can be difficult to get close because of the language barrier,” said Ferdinand Reyes, 38, a Filipino resident in Gunma Prefecture.
The survey also found that about 7 in 10 Filipinos describe Philippines-Japan relations as “very good,” reflecting continued public confidence in ties built through decades of cooperation in trade, infrastructure, development assistance and people-to-people exchanges.
The Philippines and Japan are marking the normalization of 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.
As of June 2025, there were 349,714 Filipinos living in the Land of the Rising Sun, according to the Immigration Services Agency, making them the fourth-largest group of foreign residents in the country.
(Photo courtesy of OCTA Research)
