More Japanese have come to appreciate the nation’s military during a territorial dispute with China and following a big natural disaster in northern Japan four years ago. That doesn’t necessarily mean people want a bigger and stronger military, a goal for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

That was the main finding of a survey on defense issues conducted by the Cabinet Office. The poll, released Saturday, showed 92% of the respondents expressing favorable views of the Self-Defense Forces, the highest number since the government started...