世論 What Japan Thinks

According to this survey from goo Research and reported on by japan.internet.com a very significant threshold has been crossed, with the majority of Japanese now carrying an electronic cash-capable device, be it either in a credit card form factor or in a mobile phone, according to the third regular electronic cash survey.

Demographics

Between the 12th and 17th of September 2008 1,072 members of the goo Research monitor panel completed an online private questionnaire. 53.6% of the sample were male, 15.7% in their teens, 18.4% in their twenties, 21.9% in their thirties, 16.1% in their forties, and 27.9% aged fifty or older.

I have for one out of the three legs of my journey to work a ICOCA card, JR West’s version of the Suica railway pass. However, mine is used exclusively as a season ticket only; I haven’t used it as cash for at least two years. Work also allows us to use our RFID-enabled company ID to pay for lunch and at the shop, but that’s not really electronic cash, just a quick credit card payment function.

My wife uses her mobile phone a lot, however, at shops in and around the stations, but that’s technically not electronic cash as she has it linked to her credit card. I don’t know how much this blurring of roles affected the answers to the survey, however, but Q1SQ1 suggests that most people are charging their cards with cash, not having a direct link to a credit card or bank account.

Research results

Q1: Do you carry a contactless IC (RFID) electronic cash card? (Sample size=1,072)

Yes (to SQs)	51.9%
Used to have one, but don’t now	3.9%
Never had one	42.3%
Don’t know what it is	2.0%

Q1SQ1: How much on average do you deposit into your electronic cash wallet? (Sample size=556)

Under 1,000 yen	10.1%
From 1,000 to 1,999 yen	32.6%
From 2,000 to 2,999 yen	19.8%
From 3,000 to 4,999 yen	19.4%
From 5,000 to 9,999 yen	12.0%
10,000 yen or more	6.2%

Q1SQ2: On average how much per month do you spend using electronic cash? (Sample size=556)

Under 1,000 yen	24.0%
From 1,000 to 1,999 yen	18.0%
From 2,000 to 2,999 yen	14.7%
From 3,000 to 4,999 yen	15.3%
From 5,000 to 9,999 yen	13.8%
From 10,000 to 29,999 yen	8.5%
From 30,000 to 49,999 yen	1.9%
From 50,000 to 99,999 yen	1.0%
100,000 yen or more	2.7%