Divide Between Neighbors: Differences in Attitudes Toward Facial Recognition Technology Across Scenarios in China and Japan

Despite geographical proximity and shared cultural heritage, China and Japan exhibit markedly different patterns in facial recognition technology (FRT) acceptance. Drawing on large-scale online surveys (China: N = 3000; Japan: N = 1573), this study compared public attitudes toward FRT across eight application scenarios and examined the influence of demographic factors. Results show substantially higher acceptance in China, where seven scenarios exceeded 70% support, compared to only two in Japan. In both countries, FRT was viewed more favorably for payment and public safety applications than for entertainment uses. Japanese respondents demonstrated greater concern about privacy and ethics. Demographic patters also differed: Chinese women were generally more supportive of FRT, whereas Japanese women were less supportive. Older Chinese respondents were more accepting of entertainment-related FRT, whereas their Japanese counterparts exhibited stronger resistance. The findings support use-specific governance approaches that adjust regulatory intensity according to application, and shifts analytical focus from individual psychology to structural frameworks.