世論 What Japan Thinks

As part of their 104th Ranking Research, DIMSDRIVE Research asked 5,003 members of its monitor group why it was good that they were born Japanese. This poll was conducted towards the end of November.

When I first read this I laughed out loud at the item ranked second, and I think everyone else who has lived in Japan will raise at least a wry smile when they see probably the most groan-worthy stereotypical nihonjinron-like answer.

If I had to choose the top reasons why I’m happy that I was born Scottish, I’d probably choose the Scottish socialistic (with a small ‘s’) character, the great outdoors, our football team that can inspire both laughter and tears, something to do with our culture and heritage, and, of course, that I wasn’t born English.

Q: What thing makes you think you’re glad you were born Japanese? (Sample size=5,003, free answer)

Rank	Thing	Votes
1	Delicious food	1,085
2	The passage through the four seasons	664
3	Peace	636
4	Good public order	333
5	Economically rich	157
6	Hot springs	121
7	The good Japanese national character	91
8	Characteristic culture	72
9	Can speak Japanese	69
10=	Free country	55
10=	Bountiful natural landscape	55

Q: What thing makes you think you’re glad you were born Japanese? (Sample size=5,003, by sex, free answer)

Rank	Men N=2,584	Votes	Rank	Women N=2,419	Votes
1	Delicious food	500	1	Delicious food	585
2=	The passage through the four seasons	321	2	The passage through the four seasons	343
2=	Peace	321	3	Peace	315
4	Good public order	175	4	Good public order	158
5	Economically rich	87	5	Economically rich	70
6	Hot springs	63	6	Hot springs	58
7	The good Japanese national character	50	7	The good Japanese national character	41
8	Characteristic culture	48	8=	Can wear kimono	39
9	Bountiful natural landscape	38	8=	Can speak Japanese	39
10	Free country	36	10=	Can soak in the bath tub	24
			10=	Characteristic culture	24

Looking at the breakdown by age for other interesting choices, they included being a gun-free society, having kotatsu and tatami in houses, having Mount Fuji, and the concept of wabi-sabi, something I’ve never really understood!