世論 What Japan Thinks

Like I did, you’re probably wondering what on earth a Range Up product is. It is another made-up Japanese-style English (和製英語, wasei eigo) that means microwave-ready food that can be stored at room temperature. Range is from the Japanese for microwave oven, denshi range, and Up is probably from heat up. So, with the definitions out the way, let up proceed to this look by MyVoice at said Range Up products.

Demographics

Over the first five days of January 2009 13,771 members of the MyVoice internet community completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 54% of the sample were female, 1% in their teens, 13% in their twenties, 37% in their thirties, 31% in their forties, and 18% aged fifty or older.

I’ve not eaten these kinds of dishes myself, in fact I can’t remember seeing them ever, although I did have a friend who swore by the individual portions of rice, as they were just right for single people who couldn’t be bothered with the whole bother of a rice cooker. In fact, one will not that rice-based dishes feature very prominantly in Q2.

Research results

Q1: What kind of microwave oven do you have at home? If more than one, answer for the one you use the most. (Sample size=13,771)

Microwave only	34.1%
Microwave plus steamer	11.4%
Microwave plus oven	48.1%
Don’t know what type of microwave	4.7%
Don’t have a microwave	1.7%

Q2: Which of the following kinds of Range Up foods have you eaten? (Sample size=13,771, multiple answer)

White rice	58.1%
Pasta	33.1%
Pilaf	31.2%
Curry rice, dry curry	27.6%
Chahan (Chinese-style fried rice)	26.9%
Red rice	25.3%
Doria (rice gratin)	19.2%
Risotto	16.8%
Okayu (rice gruel)	15.1%
Yakisoba (fried noodles in sauce)	12.3%
Gyudon (beef bowl)	12.1%
Zousui (rice gruel with fish, vegetables)	10.9%
Chuka-don (rice with chop-suey)	10.3%
Kama-meshi (rice, meat, veg in a small dish)	9.0%
Udon, soba noodles in broth	8.7%
Oyako-don (fish-and-roe, chicken-and-egg rice bowl)	8.0%
Bibimbab (Korean-style rice bowl)	7.4%
Paella	5.1%
Ma-bo-don (Sichuan style bean curd)	3.6%
Gukbap (Korean rice soup)	2.4%
Other	4.7%
Not eaten any of the above	18.9%

Q3: About how often do you eat Range Up foods? (Sample size=Range Up food eaters)

Almost every day	0.9%
Three or four days a week	2.4%
One or two days a week	11.3%
One or two days a month	25.7%
One day every two or three months	20.4%
Less than that	38.4%
No answer	0.7%

Q4: At what times do you eat Range Up foods? (Sample size=Range Up food eaters, multiple answer)

Lunch	60.9%
Evening meal	31.1%
Snack	15.1%
Supper	15.1%
Breakfast	8.8%
Other	4.7%
No answer	0.6%

Q5: Why do you buy Range Up foods? (Sample size=Range Up food eaters, multiple answer)

Can stockpile it	62.4%
Cooking it myself takes time	39.8%
Reasonably-priced	16.6%
Just the right size	11.2%
It’s a product I want to eat	11.0%
Can use as an extra side dish	9.6%
Delicious	7.7%
Difficult to make food	6.3%
Can easily get nutrition	4.8%
Low calorie	2.0%
Other	8.3%
Don’t buy them	5.1%
No answer	0.2%

Q6: How might your consumption of Range Up foods change in the future? (Sample size=Range Up food eaters)

Increase	12.8%
Not change	61.0%
Decrease	11.1%
Don’t know	15.1%

Q7: Would you want to eat Range Up foods in the future? (Sample size=Non-Range Up food eaters)

Want to eat	9.5%
Don’t want to eat	47.0%
Don’t know	43.5%