世論 What Japan Thinks

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

This rather epic survey from the Cabinet Office Japan will be split into multiple parts and posted over the next few days. Here they looked at awareness of society, covering four main areas of country and society, the state of society today, evaluation of government, and how society works. A translation of a similar survey from last year may be found here and two years ago is here.

Demographics

10,000 people aged 20 or older were randomly selected from the entire Japanese population to take part in the survey. From that group, 5,494 people agreed to take part in face-to-face interviews conducted between the 7th and 24th of February 2008. 53.8% of the sample was female, 8.1% in their twenties, 15.3% in their thirties, 15.8% in their forties, 21.3% in their fifties, 21.9% in their sixties, 16.5% in their seventies, and 3.1% aged eighty or older. 74.7% were married, 11.8% were divorced or widowed, and 13.5% were unmarried.

Q6 and Q7 are a pretty depressing pair of statistics, with only peace showing any degree of optimism, but social breakdown bearing down on many people. Also, Q8 shows that people are more proud of the past rather than the present Japan.

Research results

Q6: Which of the following light images apply to the current social situation? (Sample size=5,494, multiple answer)

Peace	53.9%
Safety	17.1%
Consideration	10.8%
Sense of personal accountability	9.1%
Bright	8.6%
Room to breathe	8.0%
Zing	6.5%
Sense of community	4.4%
Other	0.3%
Nothing in particular	23.4%
Don’t know	1.7%

Q7: Which of the following dark images apply to the current social situation? (Sample size=5,494, multiple answer)

Strong tide of irresponsility	55.6%
Selfishness	47.5%
No room to breathe	37.3%
Scant sense of community	32.6%
Lack of safety, lots of irritation	29.8%
No zing	21.9%
Frivolity and flippancy	18.8%
Dark	12.1%
Other	0.7%
Nothing in particular	2.2%
Don’t know	0.9%

Q8: Which of the following aspects of Japan or the Japanese can you be proud of? (Sample size=5,494, multiple answer)

Long history and traditions	48.1%
Beautiful nature	46.6%
Illustrious culture and arts	44.9%
Good public order	30.1%
Citizens’ studiousness, talent	28.1%
Free and peaceful society	27.0%
Citizens’ humanity, sense of duty	22.2%
High scientific, technical standards	22.0%
High educational standards	13.4%
Economic prosperity	10.2%
Safe society	10.0%
Cohesiveness of the citizenry	4.3%
Other	0.1%
Nothing, don’t know	4.5%

Q9: Which of the following aspects of today’s society are you satisfied with? (Sample size=5,494, multiple answer)

High quality living environment	29.0%
Maintenance of physical and mental health	18.9%
Easy for women to aspire to be successful in society	18.8%
Easy to express one’s desire of learning, one’s ambitions	16.9%
Easy to select working style	16.5%
Easy to mutually relate to people	13.6%
Easy for middle-aged and older people to be involved in society	12.3%
Easy to find opportunities	8.2%
Easy to bring up children in the family	6.4%
Having financial room to breathe	5.0%
Easy for young people to strive towards being independent in society	3.4%
Other	0.3%
Nothing in particular	26.0%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q10: Which of the following aspects of today’s society are you not satisfied with? (Sample size=5,494, multiple answer)

Having financial room to breathe	42.4%
Easy to bring up children in the family	32.1%
Easy for young people to strive towards being independent in society	31.6%
Easy for middle-aged and older people to be involved in society	26.8%
Easy to select working style	20.6%
Easy for women to aspire to be successful in society	18.3%
Easy to find opportunities	13.6%
Easy to mutually relate to people	16.1%
High quality living environment	13.4%
Maintenance of physical and mental health	13.0%
Easy to express one’s desire of learning, one’s ambitions	9.2%
Other	1.6%
Nothing in particular	9.7%
Don’t know	2.5%

Q11: Are you satisfied with the current level of public services available? (Sample size=5,494)

Satisfied	7.4%
Somewhat satisfied	30.4%
Can’t say either way	30.4%
Somewhat dissatisfied	21.3%
Dissatisfied	8.4%
Don’t know	2.1%

Q12: What do you think about the following opinions regarding public services?

Q12A: Certain public services should be privatised. (Sample size=5,494)

Think so	34.7%
Perhaps think so	35.7%
Perhaps don’t think so	14.1%
Don’t think so	8.5%
Don’t know	7.0%

Q12B: Certain public services should be run by NPOs (Non-profit organisations) or volunteer groups. (Sample size=5,494)

Think so	28.1%
Perhaps think so	37.1%
Perhaps don’t think so	18.3%
Don’t think so	8.4%
Don’t know	8.1%

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