TOKYO, JAPAN – 10 JUNE, 2011: According to surveys AIP Corporation conducted together with K.K Kyodo News in January and April this year, the negative impact of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant on the overseas popularity of Japanese brands was mostly limited to some countries and regions including South Korea and Hong Kong.

The popularity of Japanese foods and beverages fell significantly but that of automobiles and electric appliances was less affected after the radiation leakage accident at the plant crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

AIP surveyed people aged 16 and older through the Internet and obtained about 82,000 answers from 15 countries and regions including Asian countries, the United States, Britain and France as well as Japan in January and April this year.The ratio of respondents in South Korea who said they like Japanese brands fell to 66 percent in April from 74 percent in January.

The ratio also dropped 5 points in Hong Kong, 2 points in Singapore and 1 point in Thailand and Malaysia.

On the contrary, the portion of those who like Japanese brands increased in six countries -- France, the United States, China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia -- while it was unchanged in countries such as Taiwan, Indonesia and Britain.

By product, the ratio of respondents who said they like Japanese automobiles dropped 2 points to 8 percent in South Korea, while it rose in 10 countries and regions including Vietnam and India.

The ratio of those who like Japanese electric appliances fell in only five countries and regions including Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, but that for foods and beverages plunged 17 points in Hong Kong and 11 points in Singapore while falling by 1 to 5 points in nine other countries and regions, including China, the United States and Britain.