世論 What Japan Thinks

[part 1][part 2][part 3]

The Cabinet Office Japan recently released the results of a survey they conducted into citizens’ lifestyles. I translated a survey on the same topic in 2009, 2007, and 2005, if you wish to cross-reference.

Demographics

Between the 13th of October and the 6th of November 2011 10,000 members of the public who were randomly selected from resident registers were approached for interview. Of that number, 6,212 people actually took part in the survey, conducted by means of face-to-face interviews. 53.9% of the sample were female, 8.7% in their twenties, 13.9% in their thirties, 17.2% in their forties, 15.8% in their fifties, 21.7% in their sixties, 16.5% in their seventies, and 6.1% aged eighty or older. Furthermore 71.7% of the sample were married, 13.0% divorced or widowed, 15.1% unmarried, and 0.2% did not answer. Additionally, 77.9% had children, including those that were adults or not living with them. Although 34.5% said they used the internet from a computer almost every day and 39.0% used the internet from mobile devices almost every day, there was also 45.2% and 42.8% who never used it at all from computers and from mobile devices respectively.

In Q18 it is interesting that 28.0% say that they now pay attention in the safety aspect of food. Looking at the detailed breakdown by age, sex and area where people live, we can see that…

Research results

Q13: What sort of meaning does 家庭 (katei, family, household) hold for you? (Sample size=6,212, multiple answer)

Where there is family harmony	64.4%
Where there is peace and relaxation	59.6%
Where family bonds are strengthened	55.5%
Where parents and children grow up together	38.9%
Where a couple’s love is nurtured	29.9%
Where children are born and grow up	25.8%
Where children are brought up	18.1%
Where parents are looked after	12.8%
Other	0.2%
Don’t know	1.8%

Q14: What is the objective of work to you? Choose the one answer closest to your way of thinking. (Sample size=6,212)

I work to get money	48.2%
I work to find a purpose in life	22.6%
I work to fulfil my duties as a member of society	15.5%
I work to demonstrate my own skills and brainpower	9.4%
Don’t know	4.4%

Q15: There are lots of kinds of jobs out there. What do you think is your sort of ideal job? Choose up to two from the following. (Sample size=6,212, multiple answer)

Job with stable income	59.6%
Job that is enjoyable for me	59.3%
Job suited to my specialised knowledge or brainpower	40.5%
Job free from health worries	32.1%
Job with no worries about unemployment	28.4%
Job for the benefit of society	28.4%
Job that can be well-paying	14.6%
Other	0.2%
Don’t know	2.4%

Q16: Regarding salary and free time, would you rather free time increased or salary increased? Choose which is closest to your way of thinking. (Sample size=6,212)

Increased salary	48.4%
Increased free time	34.2%
I cannot say one is better	16.2%
Don’t know	1.1%

Q17: In the future, in which areas do you think the government should put effort into? (Sample size=6,212, multiple answer)

Medical fees, pension, other welfare system reform	67.1%
Economic measures	66.3%
Aging society measures	52.4%
Recovery from the East Japan Great Earthquake Disaster	51.0%
Employment issues	47.4%
Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station accident resolution	46.8%
Tax reform	36.2%
Cost-of-living measures	34.9%
Foreign affairs, international co-operation	32.8%
Falling birthrate countermeasures	30.7%
Natural resources, energy measures	30.6%
Environmental protection	29.8%
Administrative reform	28.5%
Self-defence, security	27.3%
Education reform, child development	26.2%
Disaster prevention	24.9%
Measures towards sound public finances	24.5%
Public order	22.6%
Regional development	20.7%
Consumer protection measures	18.7%
Small and meadium business support measures	17.7%
Homes, public facilities, transport infrastructure	17.3%
Farming, fishing and forestry measures	14.9%
Decentralisation	14.6%
Traffic safety measures	14.0%
Suicide prevention	13.2%
Culture, sports promotion	12.5%
Science promotion	12.4%
Deregulation, new business development financial reforms	10.9%
Gender equality	9.8%
Facilitation of residents’ activites	9.2%
Other	0.9%
Nothing in particular	2.5%

Q18: There has been an earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear power station accident. Since then, in your daily life, what have you become strongly aware of? (Sample size=6,212, multiple answer)

Saving electricity	59.0%
Disaster preparation	44.9%
Holding family and relatives dear	40.3%
Not to be lead astray by gossip	38.0%
Holding my local area dear	35.5%
Taking care about the safety aspect of food	28.0%
Holding friends dear	27.4%
Donating money	23.0%
Performing volunteer activity	13.3%
Making efforts to build up savings	10.0%
Increasing my consumption	4.9%
Other	0.6%
Nothing in particular	7.0%
Don’t know	0.3%

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