世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1] [part 2]

DIMSDRIVE Research published the results of a very timely survey on a subject I’ve been keen to learn more about, how the Japanese spend Christmas. Over a week at the end of November 4,312 people from their internet monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 45.8% of the sample was male, 63.5% were married, and 1.1% were in their teens, 17.1% in their twenties, 35.1% in their thirties, 27.0% in their forties, 14.4% in their fifties, and 5.3% aged sixty or older. The second half of the survey looks at Santa and the meaning of Christmas.

As for people who still believe in Santa, I suppose (or at least I hope) this means the number who believe in the spirit of giving and receiving, rather than in an actual fat guy coming down your chimney.

I’m surprised by the 13.2% who say it is a time to celebrate Christ’s birth (yes, yes, I know it is actually a pagan holiday that has been usurped), but whether they are answering in respect of their own beliefs or to demonstrate that they do really know that for other people it’s more than just an excuse to indulge to excess, I do not know.

It’s also interesting to note in the final table that Christian holidays, or perhaps more correctly just holidays imported from the West, are more significant than most of the traditional days. The reasons for this may be an interesting topic for future study.

Q2: Do you have children? (Sample size=4,312)

Yes (to SQ)	50.9%
No	49.1%

Q2SQ: Have you ever dressed up as Santa Claus for your children? (Sample size=2,195)

Yes	8.5%
No	91.5%

Q3: Do you believe Sata Claus exists? If not, until how old did you believe? (Sample size=4,312)

I believe	11.7%
Between 0 and 3 years old	3.2%
Between 4 and 6 years old	19.0%
At 7 or 8 years old	17.3%
At 9 or 10 years old	13.0%
At 11 or 12 years old	5.6%
At 13 years old or older	1.4%
Not even from the beginning	15.5%
Don’t know	13.3%

Q4: What is Christmas to you? (Sample size=4,312, multiple answer)

To enjoy with family	57.8%
For lovers	25.4%
An event to get excited about	22.7%
Expensive!	21.5%
To enjoy with friends	21.2%
Day to receive presents	15.2%
Day to celebrate Christ’s birth	13.2%
A day to feel lonely and solitary	3.9%
Other	3.5%
Nothing in particular	18.3%

Q5: Do you like Christmas? (Sample size=4,312)

Love it	16.1%
Quite like it	49.4%
Not bothered either way	25.6%
Not very keen on it	6.9%
Bah, humbug!	1.9%

The older one gets, not surprisingly I suppose, the more ambivalent, even grouchy, one gets.

Q6: Which of the following events do you like? (Sample size=4,312, multiple answer)

New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day	62.2%
Christmas	50.1%
Saint Valentine’s Day, White Day	17.5%
Obon	16.1%
Tanabata	13.2%
Hina Matsuri	11.9%
Children’s Day	9.0%
Halloween	8.0%
Setsubun	7.7%
Other	3.1%
None in particular	21.3%

[part 1] [part 2]