世論 What Japan Thinks

Even though shops like Oxfam dress many UK students, charity shops as we might know them in the west basically do not exist in Japan, for various reasons that would be interesting to see investigated through a survey. Indeed, perhaps the full version of this survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by JR Tokai Express Research Inc into used clothes covered that issue, although the highlights below do not.

Demographics

On the 20th of November 2007 334 members of the JR Tokai Express Research online monitor panel completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 56.3% of the sample was male, 4.8% in their teens, 16.5% in their twenties, 37.4% in their thirties, 24.3% in their forties, 8.7% in their fities, 7.5% in their sixties, and for the first time ever for a JR Tokai Express Research poll, 0.9% (or three people) were specifically identified as being aged seventy or older.

I’m not sure how the first answer in Q1SQ2 should be read; is this referring to buying pre-worn jeans or the like, or choosing used for everyday wear as one cannot afford new. I’d also like to see cross-referencings between where purchased and why purchased, and also what sorts of clothes. I can image little stigma being attached to picking up a second-hand kimono, but a box of everyday clothes from a fleamarket is a very different kind of purchase.

Research results

Q1: Have you ever bought used clothes? (Sample size=334)

Yes (to SQs)	40.4%
No	59.6%

Q1SQ1: From what kinds of places have you bought used clothes? (Sample size=135, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Bricks-and-mortar shop	103	76.3%
Fleamarket	62	45.9%
Net auction	29	21.5%
Friend	18	13.3%
Bricks-and-mortar shop online store	9	6.7%
Online-only store	6	4.4%
Online shopping mall	5	3.7%
Other	2	1.5%

Q1SQ2: Why did you purchase used clothes? (Sample size=135, multiple answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Because they were non-brand, but good quality used clothes	98	72.6%
Wanted domestic brand, but used was cheaper	45	33.3%
Wanted overseas brand, but used was cheaper	30	22.2%
Was clothes I couldn’t buy new	25	18.5%
Other	9	6.7%