世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1][part 2]

iShare recently took a close look at the size of breasts in Japan, as one does. Given the ample size, I’ll split the results into two posts.

Demographics

Between the 26th and 29th of August 2011 650 members of the CLUB BBQ free email forwarding service completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The 438 women were split into 31.7% in their twenties and 68.3% in their thirties. The 212 men were split into 22.2% in their twenties and 77.8% in their thirties.

It may seem odd, but one of the major underwear makers released in April last year an internet-only breast-reduction bra and sold all 2,000 pairs almost immediately, hastely produced another 6,000 pairs which again sold like hotcakes. From the 7th of this month they are selling this year’s model, again internet-only.

Research results

Q1: What is your bra size? (Sample size=438, women)

A cup or less	10.5%
B cup	19.9%
C cup	19.6%
D cup	28.3%
E cup	12.6%
F cup	6.2%
G cup	2.1%
H cup or more	0.9%

Q2: Do you worry about your bra size? (Sample size=438, women)

Very much so	31.7%
A little	48.4%
Not at all	19.9%

A cups and less and F cups and more caused the most worry; over 50% of the women of each of these sizes were very worried.

Q3: What kinds of bras do you use? (Sample size=438, women, multiple answer)

Three-quarters cup bra	67.4%
Full cup bra	46.1%
Non-wired bra	25.6%
Half cup bra	15.8%
Sports bra	11.0%
Strapless bra	10.5%
Unpadded bra	10.0%
Front hook bra	8.9%
Cleavage-enhancing bra (Wonderbra)	6.4%
Sleep bra	6.4%
Triangular bra	1.6%
Other	1.1%

Q4: Do you think having large (D cup or larger) breasts has merits over small breasts? (Sample size=438, women)

Yes (to SQ)	40.0%
No	60.0%

Q4SQ: What do you think the merits of large breasts are? (Sample size=175, multiple answer)

Shows a feminine body line	84.6%
Looks sexy	69.1%
Suits clothes that show off cleavage	57.7%
Attracts men	40.0%
Other	2.3%

Q5: Do you think having large (D cup or larger) breasts has demerits? (Sample size=438, women)

Yes (to SQ)	87.2%
No	12.8%

Q5SQ: What do you think the demerits of large breasts are? (Sample size=382, multiple answer)

Get tired from heavy breasts	67.0%
Look fat	60.5%
When wearing shirts there’s a gap between the buttons around the cleavage	51.0%
Few cute bras	44.0%
Highlights breasts only	42.7%
Stretches the pattern on clothes around the cleavage	35.9%
People mistakenly focus on the bust	29.8%
Other	12.6%

Q6: Do you think there are situations where women with large breasts would want to wear a bra that made their bust smaller? (Sample size=438, women)

Yes (to SQ)	66.4%
No	33.6%

Q6SQ: What kinds of situations do you think women with large breasts would want to wear a bra that made their bust smaller? (Sample size=291, women, multiple answer)

When not wanting to draw attention to one’s bust	64.9%
When wanting to look slim	62.2%
When wanting to wear shirts	51.5%
When not wanting to appear sexy	45.7%
When at work	40.2%
When wearing patterned clothes	26.1%
When there are lots of men around	23.4%
Other	3.4%

Q7: What do you think is the ideal bra size? (Sample size=438, women)

A cup or less	0.5%
B cup	9.6%
C cup	53.2%
D cup	29.0%
E cup	6.4%
F cup	1.1%
G cup	0.2%
H cup or more	0.0%

Q8: Have you ever wanted to show off a smaller bust? (Sample size=438, women)

Yes. frequently (to SQ)	13.9%
Yes, sometimes (to SQ)	21.2%
No, never	64.8%

Q8SQ: Would you be interested in a bra that made your bust look smaller? (Sample size=438, women)

Yes, very much so	36.4%
Yes, a little	50.0%
No, not at all	13.6%

[part 1][part 2]