Public sentiment about the economy and the direction Japan is taking has improved somewhat since last year, according to a study by the Washington-based Pew Research Center.

But the way Asia looks at Japan and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is mixed, with highly unfavorable ratings in South Korea and China but Southeast Asia moderately favorable.

Meanwhile, the gap between young Japanese and other young Asians over Japan's need to apologize for its wartime action is particularly wide.