世論 What Japan Thinks

Over the first five days at the start of March MyVoice surveyed their internet community on the topic of water purifiers and filters.

Demographics

15,793 people successfully completed the survey. 54% were female, 2% in their teens, 20% in their twenties, 38% in their thirties, 26% in their forties, and 14% in their fifties.

Although Japan is rich in natural water resources, as is the case in many other urbanised countries, after passing through much pipework (although no humans, I don’t think) and much processing the city tap water has rather a distinct flavour. In addition, there is the (usually unfounded) worry about bacteria and the like in the public water system, thus many people choose to use water purifying systems.

I’m not sure how to read the answers for Q4. For example, one in five doesn’t use tap water in the bath – I presume this must mean they don’t use cold water, as in the Japanese language hot water is distinct from cold, and perhaps there are some mysterious properties of heating to 50°C that makes it acceptable for use in the tub.

Survey results

Q1: Do you use a water purifier at home? (Sample size=15,793)

Yes	44.5%
No	54.6%
Don’t know	0.9%

Q2: What type of water purifier do you use at home? (Sample size=water purifier users)

Attached to tap outlet	39.8%
Supplied via tap outlet	26.1%
Under sink	11.5%
Built-in to taps	10.3%
Stand-alone jug	9.1%
Connected to mains supply	2.4%
Other	0.7%
No answer	0.2%

Q3: When do you change the cartridge on your water purifier? (Sample size=water purifier users)

Regularly every x months, every year, etc	44.1%
When replacement reminder display appears	24.2%
When water taste changes, when I feel it’s needed	13.4%
When cartridge gets sent by supplier	5.0%
Other	4.7%
Never changed it	8.1%
No answer	0.5%

Q4: For which of the following do you use tap water? (Sample size=15,793, multiple answer)

	Water purifier owners	Not water purifier owners
Washing face	89.4%	90.6%
Washing clothes	86.8%	88.0%
Washing dishes, cooking utensils	84.7%	87.9%
Washing body, hair	82.6%	86.6%
Filling the bath	79.7%	79.9%
Cleaning	78.7%	78.4%
Washing food, cleaning rice	60.1%	88.1%
Cooking	38.4%	81.6%
Making tea, coffee, etc	30.4%	75.7%
Drinking water	18.4%	45.8%
Use for skin care	23.4%	25.3%
Other	7.6%	9.6%
Don’t use tap water	1.2%	1.3%
No answer	0.1%	0.6%

Q5: For which of the following do you use purified or mineral water? (Sample size=15,793, multiple answer)

	All	Water purifier owners	Not water purifier owners
Drinking water	68.2%	82.9%	56.5%
Making tea, coffee, etc	54.2%	88.0%	27.0%
Cooking	45.6%	80.9%	17.3%
Washing food, cleaning rice	26.2%	52.2%	5.1%
Washing dishes, cooking utensils	5.1%	10.0%	1.1%
Washing face	3.9%	7.6%	0.9%
Use for skin care	3.3%	5.8%	1.3%
Washing body, hair	2.7%	5.0%	0.8%
Filling the bath	2.0%	3.7%	0.6%
Cleaning	1.6%	2.8%	0.6%
Washing clothes	1.6%	2.8%	0.6%
Other	1.9%	2.2%	1.6%
Don’t use purified water or mineral water	20.1%	0.0%	36.2%
No answer	1.1%	0.5%	1.6%