世論 What Japan Thinks

goo Ranking recently took a look at the reasons people want to quit living alone and move into shared accomodation.

Demographics

From the 6th to the 9th of July 2012 1,016 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 60.0% of the sample were female, 9.9% in their teens, 12.7% in their twenties, 29.0% in their thirties, 27.0% in their forties, 11.0% in their fifties, and 10.3% aged sixty or older. Note that the score in the results refers to the relative number of votes for each option, not a percentage of the total sample.

I just have to get this off my chest, but I quite dislike the US English terms for this, room share and room-mates, as I always imagine a much more intimate relationship than the UK English term, flat-mate, although I’m sure that term would confuse many a US English speaker! Sadly the Japanese term is also the US English “Room Share” imported as-is into the language.

I shared for four years in university (two in dorms, two in a flat) and then two years after graduation, but I was quite glad to move out into my own flat after that!

Ranking result

Q: What would make you want to quit living alone and move into a shared dwelling? (Sample size=1,016)

Rank		Score
1	When I want to reduce the size of the utility bills	100
2	Since there are multiple people living there, from a crime protection point of view it is safer	64.2
3	When I feel lonely there’s always someone else to be with	63.6
4	Can live in a detached house or other large dwelling	53.4
5	As I only have to pay a share of the rent, I can live somewhere more convenient for the city	46.0
6	Rather than eating out, we save money by doing a big shop at the supermarket and cooking for many people	44.8
7	When I return there’s always someone to say “Welcome home!”	39.5
8	I can be introduced to people I wouldn’t normally meet	38.0
9	We can split the housework and reduce everyone’s chores	37.3
10	Through living together I would be able to grow as a person	34.6
11	I have a longing for the practice of flat-sharing and the candid human relations	34.0
12	Easy to invite people round for a home party	29.0
13	Convenient to be able to share all our stuff	26.9
14	By all chipping in together we can easily buy expensive home electrical items	24.1
15	Although romance might be a problem, I just want to be by someone’s side	22.2
16	Can learn about all the difference facets of people	21.6
17	Can easily share, borrow CDs, books, games, etc	21.3
18	I’m at the age where being by myself is lonely	20.1
19	Bath, toilet, kitchen, other facilities are good	17.6
20	I don’t have to waste money on train tickets, etc to meet people	4.6