世論 What Japan Thinks

I recently found a survey from a new-to-this-blog company, Computer Planning Research Co., Ltd, looking at fortune telling.

Demographics

Over the 30th and 31st of August 2013 500 members of the Computer Planning Research Co., Ltd monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The sample was exactly 50:50 male and female, and in each age group from twenties to sixties there was 50 male and 50 female respondents. Furthermore all resided within the Kanto area, namely Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi and Gunma.

I find it quite disappointing that Q2 (see graph) did not have an answer “Both are equally nonsense!”

Given that there are only four blood types but 12 star signs, wouldn’t chance suggest that blood type should be thrice as accurate? Would anyone like to posit an argument as to why we see the results we do?

Research results

Q1: What sources of fortunes do you check? (Sample size=500, multiple answer)

	All	Male N=250	Female N=250
Television program fortune-telling corner (to SQs)	12.0%%	10.0%	14.0%
Portal site, etc through computer, mobile phone, etc (to SQs)	9.8%	8.8%	10.8%
Magazine fortune-telling column (to SQs)	7.0%	4.4%	9.6%
Fortune-telling book (to SQs)	2.2%	1.2%	3.2%
Specialised fortune-telling web site, app (to SQs)	1.8%	1.2%	2.4%
Face-to-face with fortune-teller (to SQs)	1.2%	0.8%	1.6%
Other (to SQs)	1.0%	0.8%	1.2%
Don’t really check my fortune	77.4%	80.4%	74.4%

Q1SQ1: How often do you check your fortune? (Sample size=113)

	All	Male N=49	Female N=64
Almost every day	34.5%	36.7%	32.8%
Few times a week	32.7%	34.7%	31.3%
Once a week	13.3%	16.3%	10.9%
Few times a month	11.5%	8.2%	14.1%
Once a month	4.4%	2.0%	4.7%
Less than that	3.5%	2.0%	4.7%

Q1SQ2: What kinds of divination do you check, use? (Sample size=113, multiple answer)

	All	Male N=49	Female N=64
Zodiac sign	69.9%	67.3%	71.9%
Drawing lots at temples (Omikuji)	17.7%	16.3%	18.8%
Blood type divination	16.8%	10.2%	21.9%
Western astrology	15.0%	10.2%	18.8%
Chinese Four Pillar astrology	14.2%	12.2%	15.6%
Tarot cards	10.6%	10.2%	10.9%
Numerology	7.1%	4.1%	9.4%
Onmyoudou (nine traditional astrological signs)	7.1%	4.1%	9.4%
Animal fortune-telling	7.1%	8.2%	6.3%
Palm-reading	7.1%	4.1%	9.4%
Feng Shui	6.2%	4.1%	7.8%
Physiognomy	2.7%	0.0%	4.7%
Dream divination	2.7%	0.0%	4.7%
Stick divination (ekisen)	1.8%	2.0%	1.6%
Playing cards	0.9%	0.0%	1.8%
Other	8.8%	6.1%	10.9%

Q1SQ3: What is the most important aspect of fortune telling? (Sample size=113)

	All	Male N=49	Female N=64
Rank (eg, how lucky one’s sign is compared to others)	42.5%	40.8%	43.8%
Health	14.2%	18.4%	10.9%
Love	8.8%	4.1%	12.5%
Money	23.0%	24.5%	21.9%
Lucky item	7.1%	8.2%	6.3%
Lucky colour	2.7%	2.0%	3.1%
Other	1.8%	2.0%	1.6%

Q2: Which is more accurate, star sign or blood type? (Sample size=500, multiple answer)

	All	Male N=250	Female N=250
Star sign	63.0%	60.4%	65.6%
Blood type	37.0%	39.6%	34.4%