世論 What Japan Thinks

goo Ranking seems to have started an interesting series looking at what typical behaviour one has experienced in food chains, with the first two being looked at being Starbucks and Subway.

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of March 2013 over 1,000 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. However, the link to the full demographics is not operating right now… 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 actually prefer Tully’s to Starbucks – Tully’s is usually not quite so packed, and their menu actually looks like a coffee shop menu. There’s probably also an element of me not wanting to be seen in place with so many foreigners…

I haven’t been to Subway for a while, although I will agree with number 15, their fried potato is excellent.
Read the rest of this entry »

This ranking survey from goo Ranking used a word I haven’t heard for a while, mottainai, “what a waste”, in a survey entitled what things at work do people think are mottainai?

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of February 2013 1,122 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 60.1% of the sample were female, 10.2% in their teens, 16.6% in their twenties, 26.5% in their thirties, 25.0% in their forties, 11.1% in their fifties, and 10.6% 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.

My place of work tries to avoid most of the wastes below, but one thing I notice in the office but not listed here is a bilingual poster that is in all the toilet cubicles that reads something like “Please close the toilet seat after use. This saves 15 grammes of CO₂ per day.” 15 grammes of CO₂ is a bit difficult to picture, but apparently is about the same as boiling a kettle, according to Google. Talking of saving electricity, and related to number 4, here is a snap from Flickr, although from a train rather than an office:

Read the rest of this entry »

goo Ranking often looks at what behaviours people hate, but this time for a change they look at what behaviour when going out drinking in mixed company (particularly office parties) by members of the opposite sex would they find unavoidably attractive, for both men looking at women and women looking at men.

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of February 2013 1,122 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 60.1% of the sample were female, 10.2% in their teens, 16.6% in their twenties, 26.5% in their thirties, 25.0% in their forties, 11.1% in their fifties, and 10.6% 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.
Read the rest of this entry »

Today is White Day, the day when women expect to get a return gift for their Valentine Day present, so goo Ranking took a look at what White Day presents women would be shocked to get in return from their boyfriend.

Demographics

Over the 6th and 7th of February 2013 1,122 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 60.1% of the sample were female, 10.2% in their teens, 16.6% in their twenties, 26.5% in their thirties, 25.0% in their forties, 11.1% in their fifties, and 10.6% 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. This question was for the females only.

Number 8, comedy chocolates, is my succinct translation of the original Japanese, sweets with a gag element to them, which might include amusingly-shaped chocolates. (Mildly NSFW link!)

One of the women in our office got number 14, alcohol; two bottles from all the guys in the office, one from a friend, some takuan (pickled daikon radish), and a case of Ukon no Chikara hangover remedy…
Read the rest of this entry »

With the university enrollment season upon us (Japan starts in April rather than September or October), goo Ranking had a short survey looking at how university freshers from the regions tend to be when they come to Tokyo.

Demographics

Over the 9th and 10th of January 2013 1,072 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 59.4% of the sample were female, 8.5% in their teens, 14.1% in their twenties, 29.8% in their thirties, 27.1% in their forties, 10.4% in their fifties, and 10.2% 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 left my back-of-beyond home to go to Scotland’s capital to study, but perhaps because in the UK there is less of likelyhood to study in your home town – hmm, is there really? Many of my Japanese colleagues did so, but in my class of about 30 in university, there was maybe just one (none at all?) from Edinburgh itself – such a distinction is less likely to be made?
Read the rest of this entry »

goo Ranking has a survey that shines a little bit of light in a corner of Japanese culture that gives me the willies, quite frankly, with a look at why people fall out of love with a liked idol.

Demographics

Over the 9th and 10th of January 2013 1,072 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 59.4% of the sample were female, 8.5% in their teens, 14.1% in their twenties, 29.8% in their thirties, 27.1% in their forties, 10.4% in their fifties, and 10.2% 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.

The idol culture (note that both boys and girls can be idols) is a bit scary at times, in particular the grown men who chase AKB48. From a female point of view, I would guess that Takarazuka Revue stars would be considered idols.
Read the rest of this entry »

goo Ranking took a look at what awful in-car smells would you be unable to tell the driver about.

Demographics

Over the 7th and 8th of December 2012 1,059 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.8% in their teens, 14.4% in their twenties, 24.9% in their thirties, 28.8% in their forties, 11.5% in their fifties, and 9.6% 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.

It’s got to be ciggie smells for me too, followed closely by too much Magic Tree (are they still popular?), usually used to mask said ciggies! Here’s a car that probably manages to avoid number 12 only…

Read the rest of this entry »

goo Ranking asked their survey group to choose the times they come to want to quit using SNS (Social Network Services).

Demographics

Over the 9th and 10th of January 2013 1,072 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 59.4% of the sample were female, 8.5% in their teens, 14.1% in their twenties, 29.8% in their thirties, 27.1% in their forties, 10.4% in their fifties, and 10.2% 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’m not much for SNS and it doesn’t really bother me what others think, but if I consider blogging instead, number three has to be my biggest downer!
Read the rest of this entry »

goo Ranking asked women from their monitor group to choose not in the least unusual ways to fail on Valentine’s Day, which, now that I think about it, is really quite an uninteresting-sounding topic.

Demographics

Over the 7th and 8th of December 2012 1,059 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.8% in their teens, 14.4% in their twenties, 24.9% in their thirties, 28.8% in their forties, 11.5% in their fifties, and 9.6% 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. This question was for the women only.

It’s amazing the pictures one can find on Flickr – here’s a chocolate heart that has not just melted but also been run over by a car!

My wife had an experience today of leaving the buying until too late, and finding all the good stuff sold out!
Read the rest of this entry »

With Valentine’s Day almost upon us, goo Ranking published the results of a ranking survey into heartstring tugging ways of passing Valentine’s chocolates, and as is the tradition in Japan, it was for men receiving them from women.

Demographics

Over the 7th and 8th of December 2012 1,059 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.8% in their teens, 14.4% in their twenties, 24.9% in their thirties, 28.8% in their forties, 11.5% in their fifties, and 9.6% 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. This question was for the women only.

Note that there are two kinds of chocolates; obligatory chocolates that have to be handed out to every male in one’s workplace or class that have no romantic significance, and true love chocolates, the meaning of which should be obvious!

I don’t think I’d be really too impressed with any of the below, myself, except of course the no beating about the bush of number four!
Read the rest of this entry »