The impression that one gets when looking at the evolution of Japan's security policy in recent years is that the Japanese public has consented to steps taken by Tokyo. After all, that is the fundamental expectation that democracies nurture. Following this reasoning, Tokyo should be developing a security policy that mirrors the public will. However, a very strong case can be made from survey data that Tokyo is not paying as much attention as it should to public sentiment pertaining to Japan's security policy.