世論 What Japan Thinks

[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 Dowa issue in Q10 is the problem of treatment from the old Buraku-min caste as there is still some discrimination against them today.

Q13 is a difficult one to decipher. On a superficial level, just 3.2% believe foreigner discrimination is inevitable, which is good, but conversely only about three in ten tag unfair treatment as discrimination. Of course, what sort of unfair treatment the respondent is thinking about is not described, nor is even what sort of foreigner they are basing their answer on.

Research results

Q8: Regarding old people, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)

Many victims of pernicious sales methods	54.3%
Ostracism from family	45.2%
Few chances to use work-related abilities	41.7%
Abuse, violence from hospital staff	41.7%
Problems with financial independence	39.8%
Abuse, violence from family caregivers	34.5%
Lack of respect for opinions or actions of old people	31.7%
Other	0.3%
None in particular	4.4%
Don’t know	1.8%

Q9: Regarding disabled people, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)

Disadvantages job-hunting, at the workplace	53.1%
Insufficient understanding of people’s disabilities	50.4%
Use of discriminatory language	42.0%
People staring, running away	37.8%
Difficulties finding a place to live	27.7%
Opposition from others regarding marriage	26.7%
Many victims of pernicious sales methods	22.4%
Cannot easily participate in sports, cultural events, local activities	15.6%
Other	0.4%
Nothing in particular	6.1%
Don’t know	3.6%

Q10: Regarding Dowa issues, how did you first come to learn of them? (Sample size=1,766)

From lessons at school (to SQ)	19.7%
From family (to SQ)	17.8%
From television, radio, newspaper, books, etc (to SQ)	13.3%
At workplace (to SQ)	6.7%
From friends at school (to SQ)	3.9%
From Dowa issues gatherings, study meeting (to SQ)	2.9%
From neighbours (to SQ)	1.9%
From local government publications (to SQ)	1.8%
From relatives (to SQ)	1.5%
Can’t remember (to SQ)	9.2%
Other (to SQ)	1.1%
Don’t know of the Dowa issues	20.5%

Q10SQ: Regarding Dowa issues, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,404, multiple answer)

Opposition from others regarding marriage	42.9%
Research into Dowa family origins	30.1%
Disadvantages job-hunting, at the workplace	29.8%
Use of discriminatory language	26.4%
Discriminatory information on the internet	14.5%
Discriminatory grafitti	9.8%
Other	0.8%
Nothing in particular	14.3%
Don’t know	12.5%

Q11: Regarding the Ainu people, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=1,766, multiple answer)

Lack of plans to preserve their distinctive culture, traditions	29.4%
Use of discriminatory language	12.9%
Disadvantages job-hunting, at the workplace	9.4%
Opposition from others regarding marriage	8.2%
Other	0.2%
Nothing in particular	14.4%
Don’t know	43.5%

Q12: It is said that foreigners living in Japan are discriminated against in various ways in their daily life. Regarding the protection of foreigners’ human rights, which of the following opinions is closest to your way of thinking? (Sample size=1,766)

Those without Japanese nationality should have similar human rights protection to that of Japanese	59.3%
It is inevitable that those without Japanese nationality do not have similar human rights to that of Japanese	25.1%
Cannot say either way	10.8%
Don’t know	4.8%

Q13: Foreigners living in Japan do get unfair treatment. What do you think about this? (Sample size=1,766)

It is unavoidable due to different customs and economic situations	33.7%
It is discrimination against foreigners	31.7%
It is inevitable that until they get used to Japan there will be trouble	20.2%
It is inevitable that foreigners get unjust treatment	3.2%
Other	1.2%
Don’t know	10.0%

Q14: Regarding HIV positive people, what sort of human rights problems do you think there are? (Sample size=, multiple answer)

Opposition from others regarding marriage	41.3%
Disadvantages job-hunting, at the workplace	37.9%
Use of discriminatory language	31.7%
Denial of hospital treatment and admission	27.9%
Denied hotel lodgings	21.2%
Denied a place to live	19.0%
Unauthorised AIDS tests	12.6%
Other	0.4%
Nothing in particular	5.4%
Don’t know	21.1%

[part 1] [part 2] [part 3]