世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1][part 2]

Macromill published their annual survey on new adults, looking at how the latest batch of twenty year olds look at themselves and their future

Demographics

Over the 21st and 22nd of December 2009 516 members of the Macromill monitor group who have recently or will soon be turning twenty thus eligible to attend a Coming of Age ceremony this weekend completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was exactly 50:50 male and female.

Most foreigners in Japan are more interested in photographing the kimono on display, not that I can blame them for that, but I think that looking past the stereotypes of partying with Mickey Mouse and drunken neds starting fights at the ceremonies is much more intellectually interesting and much less predictable than the usual coverage.

Research results

Q1: How do you see the future of Japan? (Sample size=516)

Bright	1.2%
Perhaps bright	19.6%
Perhaps dark	61.4%
Dark	17.8%

Q1: How do you see your own future? (Sample size=516)

Bright	8.9%
Perhaps bright	51.4%
Perhaps dark	32.2%
Dark	7.6%

Q3: Do you have dreams for the future? (Sample size=516)

Yes	59.1%
Not at this time	32.9%
Don’t know	7.9%

Q4: What do you think about the following? (Sample size=516)

	Think so	Perhaps think so	Perhaps don’t think so	Don’t think so
Coming of Age ceremony is needed	24.2%	39.0%	22.7%	14.1%
Making pension payments is a responsibility of citizens	28.9%	48.1%	14.5%	8.5%
When coming of age it is necessary to think of yourself as an adult	46.3%	41.7%	8.5%	3.5%

Q5A: How interested are you in politics? (Sample size=516)

	All	Male N=258	Female N=258
Very interested	30.8%	38.4%	23.3%
Somewhat interested	42.4%	38.4%	46.5%
Not really interested	17.6%	16.3%	19.0%
Not at all interested	9.1%	7.0%	11.2%

Q5B: How interested are you in elections? (Sample size=516)

	All	Male N=258	Female N=258
Very interested	25.8%	32.2%	19.4%
Somewhat interested	37.0%	35.3%	38.8%
Not really interested	25.0%	20.9%	29.1%
Not at all interested	12.2%	11.6%	12.8%

Q5C: How interested are you in the economy? (Sample size=516)

	All	Male N=258	Female N=258
Very interested	35.3%	43.8%	26.7%
Somewhat interested	43.2%	39.1%	47.3%
Not really interested	14.3%	12.4%	16.3%
Not at all interested	7.2%	4.7%	9.7%

Q6: What do you think Japan should tackle? (Sample size=516, multiple answer)

	All	Male N=258	Female N=258
Economic recovery	71.7%	69.8%	73.6%
Employment measures	65.3%	60.5%	70.2%
Hospital, nursing, other social welfare	53.1%	43.4%	62.8%
Education reform	52.3%	55.0%	49.6%
Fixing the pension system	51.2%	47.3%	55.0%
Lack of children, aging society problems	51.2%	46.9%	55.4%
Political stability	48.3%	47.3%	49.2%
Environmental issues	36.8%	29.8%	43.8%
Scientific research promotion	35.7%	41.5%	29.8%
IT promotion	31.6%	38.0%	25.2%
Culture, sports promotion	27.5%	20.5%	34.5%
Proactive contribution to world peace	22.1%	19.8%	24.4%
Promoting the appeal of Japan overseas	20.7%	19.0%	22.5%
Law and order	20.5%	18.6%	22.5%
International trade, exchange	20.3%	21.3%	19.4%
Other	4.8%	5.0%	4.7%
Don’t know	5.0%	4.3%	5.8%

Q7: Do you have an ideal adult figure? (Sample size=516)

	All	Male N=258	Female N=258
Yes (to SQ)	46.9%	41.9%	51.9%
No	53.1%	58.1%	48.1%

Q7SQ: Who are your ideal adults? (Sample size=242, multiple answer)

	All	Male N=108	Female N=134
Father	43.4%	39.8%	46.3%
Mother	41.7%	25.9%	54.5%
School teacher, professor	28.9%	26.9%	30.9%
Actor, entertainer	15.7%	14.8%	16.4%
Grandparent	14.9%	11.1%	17.9%
Senior at school	11.6%	10.2%	12.7%
Senior, boss at work	11.6%	11.1%	11.9%
Friend	8.7%	9.3%	8.2%
Historical figure	7.0%	8.3%	6.0%
Author, cultural figure	6.6%	4.6%	8.2%
Brother, sister	5.8%	5.6%	6.0%
Other relative	4.1%	2.8%	5.2%
Politician	2.9%	6.5%	0.0%
Other	6.2%	9.3%	3.7%

[part 1][part 2]