世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1] [part 2]

The Cabinet Office Japan recently released a survey into people’s thoughts about public safety in Japan. 3,000 people aged 20 or older were chosen by random, and between the 14th and 24th of December 1,795 of them, or 59.8%, took part in face-to-face interviews. Of those who did not participate, 124 had moved, 79 were on long-term absenses from home, 365 were not at home, 58 could not be found, 514 refused to participate, and 65 did not take part for other reasons. Demographically, 54.1% were female, 8.9% between 20 and 29, 15.0% between 30 and 39, 16.9% between 40 and 49, 21.9% between 50 and 59, 20.7% between 60 and 69, and 16.7% aged 70 or older.

The “gaijin hanzai” comment is related to the recent uproar regarding widespread availability of a magazine playing on precisely the fears expressed in this survey.

When I first heard about this survey I was really keen to get hold of it and translate it, but when I saw quite how much the fear of the foreign peril seems to have been stirred up, I got quite depressed. When the news of this poll appeared on Japan Today I posted a sarcastic comment (that got pulled by the moderators!) about how I was disappointed that foreigners did not make the list of dangers in that summary by Kyodo News. Little did I know that it was perhaps selective editing by the press so as not to hurt our English-speaking feelings. About the only bright spot I can find is that international terror organisations, etc, (with that “etc” covering local terror groups, the main ones so far that have actually attacked Japan) are not high in people’s concern. Note though that Q5 mentioned only international terrorists, there is no “etc”, or other questions on local loony groups.

Q1: Do you think Japan currently has good public order and is a safe country to live in? (Sample size=1,795)

Think so	12.3%
Somewhat think so	33.9%
Don’t really think so	35.7%
Don’t think so	16.9%
Can’t say either way	0.9%
Don’t know	0.4%

Q2: Within the last 10 years do you think that public safety in Japan has improved or got worse? (Sample size=1,795)

Become better	2.4%
Become somewhat better	8.9%
Become somewhat worse (to SQ)	46.6%
Become worse (to SQ)	37.7%
Can’t say either way	4.0%
Don’t know	0.4%

Q2SQ: What do you think are the causes of worsening public order? (Sample size=1,513)

Crime by foreigners in Japan has increased	55.1%
Sense of community has weakened	49.0%
Child and youth education is insufficient	48.1%
Various information that people can easily get their hands on has flooded in	43.8%
Punishment for crimes is light	39.3%
Citizens’ level of conduct have dropped	37.2%
Economic outlook has worsened	29.7%
Few uniformed officers in police boxes (koban), on patrol, etc	20.9%
Organised crime (yakusa, etc) has increased	19.3%
Police crackdowns have been insufficient	18.1%
Other	1.3%
Don’t know	0.8%

Q3: At which locations do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to crime? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)

On the street	60.2%
Shopping districts	44.7%
Cyberspace	40.1%
Public parks	37.4%
Car parks	24.5%
Lifts (elevators)	21.5%
Railway stations	19.3%
At home	15.9%
In trains, aircraft or other transport	15.5%
Other	0.4%
Nowhere in particular	4.8%
Don’t know	0.7%

Q4: What sorts of crime do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)

Housebreaking whilst at home	53.1%
Pick-pockets, purse snatching	50.0%
Drunk-driving traffic accidents, hit-and-runs and other traffic dangers	49.9%
Abduction of self or children	42.5%
Violent assault	42.2%
Fraudulent sales or money-forwarding schemes	41.4%
Theft of or from motor vehicles	40.3%
Internet crime	39.9%
Murder, violent robbers	34.4%
Groping or other sexual assault	28.2%
Loan-sharking	17.5%
Stalking	17.5%
Bosozoku bike gang dangerous riding, noise pollution, etc	17.2%
Drug sales, drug abuse	13.9%
International terrorist organisations or other terrorist incidents	13.2%
Other	0.2%
None in particular	2.5%
Don’t know	0.6%

Q5: To what kinds of individuals or organisations do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)

Emotionally unstable or random slashers, etc	59.9%
Habitual criminals; thieves, etc	43.3%
Foreign crime gangs and illegal immigrants	38.9%
Bosozoku or juvenile delinquent gangs	37.7%
Yakusa and other organised crime	29.8%
Drug dealers or users	17.0%
International terrorist organisations or international terrorists	12.8%
Other	0.2%
None in particular	6.8%
Don’t know	2.1%

Q6: Recently, which of the following crime trends do you think there has been? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)

Criminals are becoming younger	77.2%
Crime is becoming more cruel	66.5%
Crimes targeting old folk or children are increasing	61.3%
Crimes occur with simpler motivations	58.4%
Indiscriminate crimes in broad daylight are increasing	51.6%
Crimes on the internet are increasing	43.6%
Crimes by foreigners are increasing	41.9%
Crimes are becoming more complicated and ingenious	29.2%
Yakuza, theft gangs, and other organised crime is increasing	14.0%
Other	0.3%
None in particular	0.4%
Don’t know	0.3%

[part 1] [part 2]