It seems that, of the urban samples in the survey, 80 per cent on the Chinese side thought the relationship had improved, compared to only 22 per cent in Japan.

The explanation?

Chinese people’s improved opinion of Japan are directly related to President Hu’s ‘warm spring trip’ and the subsequent promotion of all-round cooperation.

The Japanese support during the earthquake in May, including the sending of rescuers, is also something the Chinese will not forget.

says Cheng Manli, deputy dean of Peking University’s school of journalism and communication.

Japanese support during the earthquake was the subject of the very first post on this blog and it looks as if that support has contributed to the improved perceptions of Japan in China.

Indeed, under Fukuda’s leadership the countries have become closer politically. I have argued that it is in fact more than just a China-friendly Fukuda or the retreat from the strong anti-Japan bent that got out of hand in the 2005 anti-Japan riots (which proved to be a good chance, indeed the only chance, to protest against anything and everything) but a recognition of the importance of the economic relationship. Obvious signs include pro-China behaviour from some very nationalist Japanese leaders, both past (Abe) and perhaps future (Aso).

There is a long way to go in building trust, however, with the survey results showing that the Nanjing Massacre is the one thing that most reminds Chinese people of Japan.

Update: Kazuo Ogoura, currently President of the Japan Foundation and Professor of Political Science at Aoyama Gakuin University, had a piece in the Japan Times a few days ago titled Roots of antipathy toward China which has some explanations of the not-so-positive Japanese sentiment towards China.

The key sentence for me is: ‘Japan’s own feeling of frustration is being projected into a form of “rejection” or “resistance” to China.’ which he explains is because of the ‘Japanese factor: Japanese people’s frustration over its own economic growth, political stalemate and demographic changes tend to find outlets on the foreign target of China.’