An annual opinion poll shows that more than 87 percent of Chinese have negative views of Japan, up sharply from last year and the second-highest rate recorded.

The Genron NPO in Japan and China International Communications Group carried out the 20th joint survey in October and November. A total of 2,500 people responded.

As for the impressions of people in Japan toward China, 89 percent of the respondents said "not good" or "rather not good," down 3 points from last year.

In China, those with negative impressions on Japan stood at 87.7 percent, a rise of 24 points. That is the second-highest figure since 2013. In the previous year, Japan's government acquired ownership of some of the Senkaku Islands from a Japanese owner.

Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains they are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Regarding the bilateral relationship, 76 percent of people in China agreed it was "bad" or "rather bad," up 34 points.

As for factors of hindering the development of bilateral ties, 50.6 percent in Japan cited differences over territories, while 35.5 percent in China referred to the release of treated and diluted water from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan.

Regarding the significance of the relationship, 59.6 percent of the respondents in China saw it as "not important" or "rather not important," up 40 points compared to last year and marking the highest rate since the survey began.

In Japan, such negative views accounted for 5 percent of respondents.

The Genron NPO notes a slow pace of movement for exchanges and dialogue between the two countries, including their governments. The group says that amid the current circumstances, inward-looking discussions have heated up on the Internet and may have an impact on the views of the Chinese people.