面對辛亥革命，日本社會依認知及立場的不同，而有各異的評價與對應。日本政府認為，「君主政治」本屬東亞世界共有的政治體系。一旦中國革命思潮流行，否定「君權神授」的理論，勢必危及日本皇室的存續，甚至動搖已納入日本疆域的韓國之秩序。是以，(1) 反對革命；(2) 誘導清廷實施憲政改革；(3) 藉機拓展在華權益，乃成為日本政府在辛亥革命爆發之初的基本立場。
另一方面，日本民間社會除少部分擁護政府主張外，大多抱持同情辛亥革命的態度。寄以同情的緣故，因人而異，如有些退役軍人曾參與新軍訓練，視新軍有如己出，為了保護參與革命的新軍不至於毀滅，乃挺身投入革命。又如部分社會主義信徒，對中國革命理想有所共鳴，遂積極支持之。另有在野黨人士，視辛亥革命為反面教材，藉機警告日本政府不可忽視民意，也利用聲援辛亥革命的機會，作為統合在野力量的圖騰。
但整體上，值此中國從帝國邁向國民國家轉型的關鍵時刻，日本政府卻不能在中國革命運動困頓之際雪中送炭，與革命黨建立合作關係，使中日兩國錯失了建立互信基礎的良機。

Different appraisals and corresponding attitudes coexist, based on different cognitions and positions, toward the 1911 Revolution of China in the Japanese society. The Japanese government believes during the time that denying the divine-right theory of kingship would be bound to jeopardize the survival of the Japanese royal family, as well as the order in Korea under Japanese ruling. Thus, three principles listed below have formed the basic stance of the Japanese government during the outbreak of the Revolution: (1) oppose the revolution; (2) induce the Qing government to implement constitutional reform; (3) expand the Japanese rights and interests in China.
On the other hand, in the Japanese society, in addition to a small portion of its people in favor of the government policies, most of them held the attitude of sympathy toward the Chinese Revolution. Activities in support of the revolution, which varied from person to person, include the participation of training of the new Chinese army, thinking of the new army as among one of them, or even participating in the Revolution personally in order to protect the new Chinese army joining the Revolution from destruction.
In addition, some socialist followers also had resonance with the Chinese revolutionary ideals and thus actively supported the Revolution.