The purpose of this study is to compare data on sample groups of Japanese, Japanese Americans, and Americans from three separate sources to determine political orientations and the socialization influencing the Japanese Americans' attitudes. The study ascertains whether the social-geographical environment or the family and other primary groups influence the orientations of Japanese Americans. Inquiry was limited to attitudes about majority rule and minority rights. Questions asked were: (1) what are the relative proportions of support for democratic precepts among Japanese, Japanese Americans, and other Americans; and (2) are the age/generation differences within these three groups similar in direction and extent. Although there are strong similarities in orientations, it was found that elder Japanese Americans are more like their cohorts in Japan than like Americans, but that younger Japanese Americans are more "American" than a cross section of non-Japanese Americans. Thus, it seems that cultural predispositions to political behavior are transferred through the family and other primary groups or socialization agents. Also, orientation discrepancies are due probably to generational differences rather than environment. (Author/ND)