世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1][part 2]

The Cabinet Office Japan recently published the results of their survey into physical strength and sports amongst the Japanese population.

Demographics

Between the 24th of September and the 4th of October 2009 3,000 adults randomly selected from population rolls from all over the country were approached for face-to-face interviews. Of the 3,000, 1,925 people, or 64.2%, were able and willing to take part in the survey. The main reasons for not taking part were refusal and not being in when the inverviewer visited. 54.2% of the sample were female, 9.2% in their twenties, 15.0% in their thirties, 17.4% in their forties, 19.6% in their fifties, 22.5% in their sixties, and 16.3% aged seventy or older.

I find it curious that many people think that kids today have a worse sport and play environment than when they were kids. I can understand about the lack of empty spaces (although I would have thought that parental paranoia about kids in empty spaces would have been more of a factor), but having less time to play is perhaps the fault of the parents and schools, a mixture of parents sending their kids to cram schools and schools and their after-school club activities.

Research results

Q9: Compared to when you were a child, how do you feel today’s children’s sporting environment and outdoor play areas have changed? (Sample size=1,925)

Become better	10.2%
Perhaps become better	12.9%
Not changed	7.5%
Perhaps become worse (to SQ)	42.2%
Become worse (to SQ)	24.2%
Don’t know	3.0%

Q9SQ: What do you feel has become worse? (Sample size=1,278, multiple answer)

There are less empty spaces, quiet streets for them to play	75.7%
There is less time for sport and play	51.7%
There are less friends for them to play with	49.1%
There are less opportunities for parents and child to get interested in sports	20.1%
There are less sporting facilities for them to use freely	14.7%
There are less local sports instructors	9.2%
Other	4.1%
Don’t know	0.6%

Q10: If there was a club for sports you like, would you want to participate in it? (Sample size=1,925)

Already participating (to SQ1, SQ2, SQ3)	16.2%
Would want to participate (to SQ4, SQ5)	38.3%
Wouldn’t want to participate	44.3%
Don’t know	1.2%

Q10SQ1: What kinds of clubs do you participate in? (Sample size=312, multiple answer)

Local town, village-based clubs	46.5%
Member-only clubs at private sporting facilities	27.9%
Workplace clubs	15.7%
Prefecture-based clubs	14.4%
School clubs	8.0%
Other	3.8%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q10SQ2: What kinds of sports or activities do you do at these clubs? (Sample size=312, multiple answer)

Physical exercises (including workplace exercises, aerobics, jump rope, etc)	18.9%
Golf	15.7%
Tennis, soft tennis, badminton, table tennis	13.8%
Baseball, softball	13.8%
Walking	13.1%
Swimming	12.2%
Volleyball, basketball	10.3%
Exercise using indoor equipment	9.6%
Dance	8.3%
Gateball, ground golf	5.4%
Football, futsal	5.1%
Bowling	4.5%
Running, jogging	4.5%
Judo, kendo, karate, sumo, boxing, wrestling	3.5%
Mountaineering, climbing	2.9%
Hiking, wandervogel, orienteering	1.6%
Boating, yachting, sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing, jetbiking, surfing, fishing	1.6%
Archery	1.6%
Skiing, snowboard	1.3%
Cycling, motorcycling	1.0%
Catchball, dodgeball	1.0%
Camping, caravanning	0.3%
Athletics	0.3%
Gliding, hanggliding, skydiving, paragliding	0.0%
Skating	0.0%
Other	7.7%
Don’t know	0.0%

Q10SQ3: What was the motivation behind joining these clubs? (Sample size=312, multiple answer)

For health, physical strength	56.1%
For friendship, to make friends	47.1%
Could do sports activities I like	39.1%
Could interact socially with local people	30.1%
Could continue to do the sport	30.1%
There are instructors	17.9%
Could get priority use of the facilities	12.5%
Could master techniques	11.5%
The facilities were fully equipped	10.6%
Could participate with children, parents, family	6.4%
Other	3.5%
No particular reason	0.6%
Don’t know	0.3%

Q10SQ4: What kinds of clubs would you want to participate in? (Sample size=738, multiple answer)

Local town, village-based clubs	61.4%
Member-only clubs at private sporting facilities	29.7%
Workplace clubs	18.0%
Prefecture-based clubs	16.9%
School clubs	6.8%
Other	1.2%
Don’t know	1.8%

Q10SQ5: What kinds of sports or activities would you like to do at these clubs? (Sample size=738, multiple answer)

Physical exercises (including workplace exercises, aerobics, jump rope, etc)	27.2%
Walking	24.8%
Swimming	21.7%
Tennis, soft tennis, badminton, table tennis	20.3%
Dance	16.8%
Exercise using indoor equipment	12.1%
Baseball, softball	11.1%
Golf	10.7%
Volleyball, basketball	10.4%
Mountaineering, climbing	8.5%
Skiing, snowboard	7.9%
Bowling	7.7%
Running, jogging	7.5%
Hiking, wandervogel, orienteering	7.2%
Boating, yachting, sailing, snorkelling, scuba diving, canoeing, jetbiking, surfing, fishing	6.2%
Football, futsal	6.2%
Gateball, ground golf	4.7%
Cycling, motorcycling	4.2%
Catchball, dodgeball	4.1%
Camping, caravanning	3.9%
Judo, kendo, karate, sumo, boxing, wrestling	3.8%
Archery	2.3%
Athletics	1.2%
Gliding, hanggliding, skydiving, paragliding	0.8%
Skating	0.7%
Other	2.2%
Don’t know	2.0%

Q11: What sorts of effects do you expect from regional sports promotion? (Sample size=1,925, multiple answer)

Giving old folk something to live for	42.2%
Creation, enlivening of the local community	37.1%
Interaction between children, parents, family	32.1%
Building physical strength in children	32.1%
Effective use of free time	28.3%
Promotion of intergenerational interaction	22.0%
Effective use of sports facilities	20.7%
Sound upbringing of youth	20.4%
Improving the average health of the area	14.7%
Other	0.2%
Nothing in particular	10.5%
Don’t know	1.0%

Q12: Are you interested in the performance of Japanese athletes at international competitions such as the Olympics, football, tennis, etc? (Sample size=1,925)

Very interested	41.6%
Somewhat interested	45.1%
Not really interested	9.9%
Not interested at all	3.3%
Don’t know	0.1%

Q13: In order for Japanese athletes to succeed at the Olympics and other international competitions what kinds of public support are needed? (Sample size=1,925, multiple answer)

Financial support for athlete training, overseas tours, etc	51.9%
Provide national training centres and other government facilities	48.9%
Plan for training trainers, coaches, other instructors	42.3%
Sufficent awards, pensions for successful athletes	32.5%
Plan for sufficient research into scientific training methods, etc	28.5%
Public support is not needed	4.3%
Other	0.1%
Don’t know	7.6%

Q14: Would you like to see Japan host the Olympics or other international sporting events? (Sample size=1,925)

Would want to	55.2%
Perhaps would want to	34.2%
Perhaps would not want to	5.3%
Would not want to	1.8%
Don’t know	3.5%

Q15: In order to promote sports more, what would you like to see national or local govenment put effort into in the future? (Sample size=1,925, multiple answer)

Development and diffusion of age-appropriate sports	37.2%
Train sports instructors	35.3%
Maintain physical education facilities at schools	33.4%
Hold events, competitions, education for each kind of sport	32.5%
Form local clubs	29.3%
Maintain outdoor sports facilities	24.8%
Support for sports volunteers	23.1%
Establishment of sport, physical strength consultation system for public sports facilities	20.9%
Sports promotional activity	19.7%
Promotion of sports-related international exchange	16.6%
Maintain indoor sports facilities	13.1%
Promotion of sports-related scientific research	12.6%
Other	0.9%
Nothing in particular	5.0%
Don’t know	4.7%

[part 1][part 2]