世論 What Japan Thinks

The Cabinet Office Japan recently released the results of a survey they conducted into citizens’ lifestyles. I translated a survey on the same topic conducted two years ago, which may be useful as a cross-reference. See also part 3 of the survey from 2005.

Demographics

Between the 5th and 22nd of July 2007 10,000 members of the public were randomly selected from presumably the electoral rolls. Of that number, 6,086 people actually took part in the survey, conducted by means of face-to-face interviews. The sample was 53.2% female, 9.1% in their twenties, 14.5% in their thirties, 15.4% in their forties, 21.0% in their fifties, 20.7% in their sixties, 15.2% in their seventies, and 4.5% aged eighty or older. In addition, 8.7% lived alone, 24.4% with a spouse, 48.9% in a nuclear household, 15.6% with grandparents or grandchildren, 0.7% in other types of family environment, and 1.7% in other non-family-based living arrangements. 73.7% were married, 12.1% divorced or widowed, 14.0% unmarried, and 0.2% did not answer. 80.2% lived in an owned house, 2.5% in an owned apartment, 3.9% in a rented home, 10.8% in a rented apartment, 0.3% in a company house, 1.6% in a company apartment, 0.4% in other arrangements, and 0.1% didn’t know where they lived. Finally, 27.2% were daily internet browsers at home or work, 16.5% were occasional browsers, 6.8% just used email, and 49.1% barely used it at all, with 0.4% don’t knows.

It’s been an interesting survey; almost all positive answers are up one or two percentage points on last time, although it isn’t clear as to why there has been this slight improvement. Perhaps the outlook for the economy doesn’t look quite as gloomy as it did two years ago?

Research results

Q13: In your opinion, normally with whom and how is the best way to live in old age? (Sample size=6,086)

Live with son (and wife if applicable)	16.8%
Live near son (and wife if applicable)	10.2%
Live with daughter (and husband if applicable)	6.0%
Live near daughter (and husband if applicable)	8.2%
Either son or daughter is fine	10.4%
Live separate from children	39.5%
Other	2.0%
Don’t know	7.1%

All options have increased by up to 1.5 percentage points since last year, except for the don’t know case.

Q14: What sort of meaning does 家庭 (katei, family, household) hold for you? (Sample size=6,086, multiple answer)

Where there is family harmony	64.2%
Where there is peace and relaxation	58.1%
Where family bonds are strengthened	54.2%
Where parents and children grow up together	39.5%
Where a couple’s love is nurtured	30.6%
Where children are born and grow up	26.9%
Where children are brought up	20.6%
Where parents are looked after	14.6%
Other	0.2%
Don’t know	1.9%

Most answers saw a noticable increase from two years ago. The top movers were 8 percentage points more choosing the strengthening of family bonds, and a 5 percentage points increase it being a place where a couple’s love is nurtured.

Q15: What is the objective of your work? Choose the one answer closest to your way of thinking. (Sample size=6,086)

I work to get money	49.4%
I work to find a purpose in life	22.2%
I work to fulfil my duties as a member of society	14.1%
I work to demonstrate my own skills and brainpower	9.6%
Other	1.0%
Don’t know	3.7%

Those working for the money decreased by over 4 percentage points, whereas the other categories increased by about 2 percentage points each.

Q16: There are lots of kinds of jobs out there. What do you think is your sort of ideal job? Choose up to two from the following. (Sample size=6,086, multiple answer)

Job with stable income	51.0%
Job that is enjoyable for me	46.5%
Job suited to my specialised knowledge or brainpower	32.2%
Job with no worries about unemployment	14.0%
Job free from health worries	19.1%
Job for the benefit of society	14.3%
Job that can be well-paying	7.7%
Other	0.2%
Don’t know	2.2%

Interestingly, the three categories that saw their percentages decrease over the last two years were jobs with stable income, jobs for life, and jobs with a large salary. All other categories increased slightly.

Q17: Regarding salary and free time, would you rather free time increased or salary increased? Choose which is closest to your way of thinking. (Sample size=6,086)

Increased salary	44.7%
Increased free time	37.7%
I cannot say one is better	15.2%
Other	0.4%
Don’t know	2.0%

The number wanting more free time increased 6.5 percentage points from two years ago.

Q18: In the future, in which areas do you think the government should put effort into? (Sample size=6,086, multiple answer)

Medical fees, pension, other welfare system reform	72.4%
Aging society measures	55.8%
Economic measures	49.6%
Employment issues	42.3%
Environmental protection	40.0%
Cost-of-living measures	34.9%
Tax reform	34.6%
Anti-crime measures	33.7%
Education reform, juvenile deliquency	32.7%
Falling birthrate countermeasures	29.8%
Self-defence, security	25.6%
Foreign affairs, international co-operation	23.9%
Administrative reform	23.8%
Living environment facilities	23.4%
Regional development	23.3%
Natural resources, energy measures	21.7%
Disaster prevention	18.4%
Traffic safety measures	15.9%
Fiscal structure reforms	15.9%
Consumer protection measures	15.5%
Small and meadium business support measures	13.4%
Farming, fishing and forestry measures	12.6%
Formation of a recycling oriented society	10.9%
Decentralisation	10.6%
Land, homes problem	10.3%
Financial system reforms	8.5%
Culture, sports promotion	9.5%
Gender equality	7.8%
Science promotion	7.4%
Deregulation, new business development financial reforms	7.2%
Information technology promotion	5.2%
Other	1.7%
Nothing in particular	2.4%

Self-defence and security was up almost a third on two years ago, perhaps reflecting the increased perception of threat from North Korea.