[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]
Ahh, this is a survey that is sure to be misconstrued and misquoted in the coming weeks and months. Already I’ve seen a poor summary from Kyodo News on Japan Today, and I’m waiting for the usual suspect to throw in his tuppence-worth on it. I’m talking about a recent survey sponsored by the Cabinet Office Japan on the subject of protecting human rights.
Demographics
Between the 21st of June and the 1st of July 2007 3,000 people aged 20 or older were randomly selected from the voter rolls. 1,766 people, or 58.9%, were available and chose to take part in the survey conducted by means of face-to-face interviews. 53.3% were female, 8.1% in their twenties, 16.8% in their thirties, 16.3% in their forties, 20.8% in their fifties, 19.8% in their sixties, and 18.1% aged seventy or older.
The key question is, of course, what do Japanese consider human rights? This question is not directly asked, but Q1 sets the scene by mentioning the eternal and inviolate rights from the Constitution of Japan. This document includes basic rights such as the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, it also includes the right to choose and dismiss public officials and universal adult suffrage (Article 15), a right denied to foreigners, and the freedom to choose one’s occupation (Article 22), another right denied to many visa holders. Therefore, it can clearly be seen that the rights available to all citizens are not all available to resident aliens (and I personally believe that Article 15 and perhaps 22 are acceptable), therefore Q12 is not as bad as it sounds.
Research results
Q1: Do you know that the constitution of Japan guarantees a number of eternal and inviolate human rights? (Sample size=1,766)
Q2: On television and in newspapers, etc, “human rights problems” and “infringements on human rights” news gets reported. In the last five or six years, do you think the number of cases of human rights infringements has changed? (Sample size=1,766)
| Decreased |
11.0% |
| Not really changed |
40.3% |
| Increased |
42.0% |
| Don’t know |
6.7% |
Q3: Do you think your own human rights have been infringed upon? (Sample size=1,766)
| Yes (to SQ) |
16.3% |
| No |
83.7% |
Q3SQ: Which of the following do you think have been infringed upon? (Sample size=287, multiple answer)
| Rumours, others speaking ill of me |
47.4% |
| Infringement on privacy |
25.1% |
| Defamation |
20.2% |
| Public nusances such as foul odours, noise |
13.9% |
| Disciminatory treatment (race, belief, sex, etc) |
13.9% |
| Violence, duress, extortion |
13.6% |
| Unjust handling by police |
12.2% |
| Coercion at work or other unfair treatment |
8.0% |
| Falling out with the local community |
7.7% |
| Sexual harassment |
7.7% |
| Stalking |
4.9% |
| False accusations of crimes, illegal activity |
3.5% |
| Unjust handling at public welfare facilities |
3.1% |
| Stoppage of water, gas, or other home-related issues |
1.0% |
| Other |
7.0% |
| Nothing specific, just feel infringed upon |
1.0% |
| Don’t want to answer |
2.4% |
This adds up in total to 192.7%, so on average all those who feel infringed have at least two areas where they feel so.
Q4: “On one hand there is the call to respect human rights, but on the other hand the number of people who assert their rights only without thinking of the trouble they cause others is increasing.” How do you think regarding this opinion? (Sample size=1,766)
| Strongly think so |
34.9% |
| Think so quite a bit |
50.3% |
| Don’t really think so |
11.7% |
| Don’t think so at all |
1.0% |
| Don’t know |
2.2% |
Q5: Within Japan, which of the following human rights issues are you concerned about? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)
| Disabled |
44.1% |
| Old people |
40.5% |
| Children |
35.0% |
| Human rights abuse on the internet |
32.7% |
| North Korean kidnap victims |
31.5% |
| Women |
25.0% |
| Crime victims |
24.1% |
| HIV positive people |
18.9% |
| Hansen’s disease sufferers, ex-sufferers |
17.0% |
| Homeless |
16.8% |
| Dowa issues |
15.0% |
| Ex-convicts |
14.9% |
| Human trafficing |
12.5% |
| Foreigners |
12.5% |
| Trans-gender issues |
10.4% |
| Sexual preferences |
9.2% |
| Ainu |
6.2% |
| Other |
0.5% |
| None in particular |
8.6% |
The total of the answers is 375.2%, so most people have at least four areas of human rights that they keep their eyes on.
Q6: Regarding women, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)
| Discriminatory treatment at work |
41.7% |
| Domestic violence |
33.2% |
| Sexual harassment at work |
33.1% |
| Pressure to adopt traditional roles |
30.6% |
| Prostitution |
27.2% |
| Adult video and pornographic magazines |
19.0% |
| Female nudes in magazines and newspapers |
17.6% |
| Adult entertainment business |
17.3% |
| Gratutious scantily-clad women in advertising |
14.3% |
| Sexist terms for women |
11.3% |
| Other |
0.4% |
| None in particular |
13.3% |
| Don’t know |
4.5% |
Q7: Regarding children, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)
| Seeing bullying but pretending you didn’t see it |
68.0% |
| Pushing someone out of a group, giving them the silent treatment, direct violence, pestering, and other bullying |
62.2% |
| Domestic violence against children |
47.7% |
| Child sexual exploitation |
37.4% |
| Parents pushing their own opinions over their children regarding school, work selection |
28.1% |
| Corporal punishment at school |
16.4% |
| Other |
0.3% |
| None in particular |
4.1% |
| Don’t know |
2.6% |
[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]
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Rocking in Hakata » Japan's Take on Human Rights said,
August 28, 2007 @ 11:11
[…] interested, or if you want to know what I’m talking about, I encourage you to go take a look: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. While Ken Y-N seems to think that a few folks will jump on it because it’s […]
Arudou Debito (the usual suspect) said,
August 31, 2007 @ 11:01
Hi Ken Y-N. Thanks for this excellent translation and examination. I will comment when I get a moment, hopefully within 72 hours (meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today with a bunch of NGOs regarding CERD).
Question for you, though. I read that the goal of this survey is “to survey the awareness of citizens (kokumin) regarding human rights protections, in order to apply them towards shaping future policy”.
http://www8.cao.go.jp/survey/h19/h19-jinken/1.html
You noted above in the introductioon that they selected these people to survey by accessing voter rolls. Could I just ask for your source on that, or was that an extrapolation based upon the word “kokumin”?
Thanks. In any case, great work! Debito in Tokyo
Arudou Debito said,
September 2, 2007 @ 09:56
Helloooo Ken?
Ken Y-N said,
September 2, 2007 @ 22:47
Hi Debito - sorry for the delay in replying, but I’ve been a bit busy this weekend!
Thanks for your question - I was hoping to bait you into replying! The means of selection is not directly mentioned in this report, but others from the Cabinet Office have mentioned the selection method (if I remember correctly…) so I assumed they used the same method here.
Anyway, given the fact that they select people over 20 at random from all over the country and the patterns of refusals (such as moved away, etc) the only possible place they can be selecting names from is the voter rolls, I would guess. The juminhyo (Juki Net notwithstanding) is perhaps only locally managed?
A quick web search turned up this page:
http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/A01/BP00/faq/q11.html
I think that says that as well as voter rolls, other ways that fit the pattern seen here are census data and the basic resident register, although the second is as mentioned above perhaps not available to central government.
Arudou Debito said,
September 4, 2007 @ 01:31
Alright, thanks very much Ken! Debito
Arudou Debito said,
September 9, 2007 @ 22:52
Hi Ken. The “usual suspect” has finally gotten around to weighing in on the survey:
http://www.debito.org/index.php/?p=556
From the RSS summary:
“In August 2007, the PM Cabinet released the results of its survey on the awareness of human rights in Japan. Done every 4 years, it demonstrated that more people believe that NJ deserve the same human rights as other humans in Japan (thanks, I guess)–up after a declilne in 1999 and 2003. However, given the vague, leading, and misleading questions, the survey is most enlightening when viewed in regards to just how clueless even our government professionals are about the portrayal and promotion of human rights in Japan.”
Enjoy. Thanks for writing this up! Arudou Debito in Sapporo
Debito on the recent Cabinet Office human rights survey » 世論 What Japan Thinks said,
September 13, 2007 @ 02:32
[…] that Debito has published a detailed look at the recent survey on human rights, including bits from my translation and other more traditional news […]
Cabin Fever « significant soil said,
December 19, 2007 @ 22:09
[…] seem that Human Rights are being breached. Consider this survey conducted by the Cabinet called “Public Survey on the Defense of Human Rights”) (and here for an proposed analysis). It would appear from the results of question 12 that only […]
Rohtash Chander Tandon said,
March 23, 2008 @ 01:52
Please visit the above mentioned site to find discrimination by Japanese Police, Law makers and Authorities. I will appreciate your contribution in order to get justice. Other site: rohtash.com
Rohtash Chander Tandon said,
March 23, 2008 @ 01:58
Please visit http://www.sabetsu.rohtash.com
You will find discrimination by Japanese Police, Law Makers and Authorities with evidences. Other site: http://www.rohtash.com
I will appreciate your contribution in order to get justice. Thanks.
Mihai A. Prohaska said,
August 20, 2008 @ 19:10
I am happy to know there are you guys aware of Human Rights violations in democratic Japan of today. Because my Human Rights are violated since 1999, here in Tokyo. There are Japanese “Body” (something like Secrete Police, don’t know who exactly are they). They use technology and other ways to spy on me. And intentionally violates my Human Rights in many ways.
I have a strong will to start a Legal Process against Japanese Government. I don’t know how I can start?
Do you have any idea where to turn to for advise and Legal Counsel?
Any E-mail will be appreciated. Thanks.
Ken Y-N said,
August 20, 2008 @ 22:46
Mihai, may I suggest you try Arudou Debito at http://www.debito.org. That sounds right up his alley.
Thanks
Mihai A. Prohaska said,
August 21, 2008 @ 10:46
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your comment.
I will look at that URL today…
Regards,
Mihai A. Prohaska said,
August 21, 2008 @ 11:09
By the way, did you hear anything about a similar case like mine? In my case, I am conscious that Japanese Government / Secrete Police (who knows who are they), use advanced technology, something like extracting information right from your brain, from distance, even through walls… I call it “Thoughts Listening Machine”. By this way, the Japanese Government “see what you see” and “listen what you think”. There is more to this technology, as I experienced first hand as a victim. For example they tortured me by provoking increasing pressure on my brain… it is a tool for torture, psychological and physical as well…
Did anyone of you know this things exist (the technology), and the Japanese Government use this with discrimination, and directly violates the basic Human Right: Freedom of Conscious!
Other mean way of attacking your mental well being, is the Japanese Government sets up “social shows” in society. I mean they instruct Japanese civilians to act in your presence, in society. For example I went in the Tokyo subway and people that are standing close to me, simple civilians, were talking negative about me. I went to Mister Donnats and there as well, people sitting there talk about me. I went to Sport Center swimming pool and there Japanese people act in common to obstruct my swim path, and provoke me to show aggression. One of them showed increased aggression when I swam close to him… All these are the way the Japanese Government/ Secrete Police, use against their victims. Their purpose is to drive you crazy.
The Japanese Government/ Secrete Police instigate public hate against me. And violate my Human Rights by instigating public opinions against me.
And many more incidents, all these without to commit any crime. I have really no idea why Japanese Government do this to me!
I appreciate your input/ comments.
Regards,