Over the last few decades, Japanese media and celebrities have been making inroads into popular culture overseas.
South Korean audiences follow trendy Japanese TV dramas, American youths marathon anime through online streaming services, and sports fans cheer on Japanese athletes at venues around the globe.
In one part of the study, respondents were asked to give, if they could, the name of a famous Japanese person, living or dead, that they knew.
The Chinese list also showed a soft spot for old school Japanese show business stars.