世論 What Japan Thinks

• Complaints one cannot make to one’s Japanese girlfriend: Or wife, or boyfriend or husband, as the case may be, a.. http://tinyurl.com/l4wdrl #
• Bing unknown to nine in ten Japanese: The headline figure is not really surprising to me, partially because it h.. http://tinyurl.com/kwep8j #
• Death of pink bunny shocked many Japanese: The pink bunny is the mascot character of the not-very-sadly missed E.. http://tinyurl.com/les8sb #
• Two in five Japanese ignorant of public wifi networks: Considering how wired the country is, with the lowest cos.. http://tinyurl.com/lhdrhf #
• Dogs, cats and goldfish most popular pets in Japan: This recent survey from DIMSDRIVE Research into pets had int.. http://tinyurl.com/mogeu4 #
• Dessert and green tea accompany most convenience store bento: I’ve never eaten a convenience store bento (.. http://tinyurl.com/nftd2c #

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• Complaints one cannot make to one’s Japanese girlfriend: Or wife, or boyfriend or husband, as the case may be, a.. http://tinyurl.com/l4wdrl #
• Bing unknown to nine in ten Japanese: The headline figure is not really surprising to me, partially because it h.. http://tinyurl.com/kwep8j #
• Death of pink bunny shocked many Japanese: The pink bunny is the mascot character of the not-very-sadly missed E.. http://tinyurl.com/les8sb #
• Two in five Japanese ignorant of public wifi networks: Considering how wired the country is, with the lowest cos.. http://tinyurl.com/lhdrhf #
• Dogs, cats and goldfish most popular pets in Japan: This recent survey from DIMSDRIVE Research into pets had int.. http://tinyurl.com/mogeu4 #
• Dessert and green tea accompany most convenience store bento: I’ve never eaten a convenience store bento (.. http://tinyurl.com/nftd2c #

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-21: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-14: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06.. http://tinyurl.com/ndr32m #
• Top three people on telly you want as father: 1. Tokoro George; 2. Sekine Tsutomu; 3. Gussan #
• Liked local ramen: 1. Hakata 35%; 2. Sapporo 34%; 3. Kitakata 18%; 4. Tokyo, Kumamoto 8%; 6. Yokohama 7% (goo Research) #
• Japanese women and online shopping for cosmetics: Although this survey from iBridge Research Plus and reported o.. http://tinyurl.com/mfzo38 #
• Standby blog topics in Japan: Yesterday was Sunday, but I was all jet-lagged, so please forgive me this post of .. http://tinyurl.com/nqzbcx #
• Coping with stress in Japan: If I’d translated this one yesterday I could have been all nice and happy and.. http://tinyurl.com/lpgldq #
• Virus software in Japan: There’s nothing really startlingly new from this recent survey into security soft.. http://tinyurl.com/mnqw6p #
• Faffing about on mobile phones in Japan: I do like the word faffing, but a more literal and correct translation .. http://tinyurl.com/ltohud #
• Mobiles while mobile in Japan: Despite a law being passed to forbid the use of mobiles while driving cars or rid.. http://tinyurl.com/lma7xa #

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-14: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-07: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05.. http://tinyurl.com/lsvsas #
• Sudden rain actions: 1. Shelter by building; 2. Run; 3. Use folding brolly; 4. Just get wet; 5. Pass time in convenience store (goo Ranking) #
• Rainy season problems: 1. Washing doesn’t dry; 2. Wet trouser cuffs; 3. Mold; 4. Hair won’t stay set; 5. Carry brolly or not? (goo Ranking) #
• Why Japanese are negative regarding love: It’s Sunday, so it must be goo Ranking day! This time they took .. http://tinyurl.com/l3pojm #
• Electric shaver usage in Japan: With Father’s Day being next weekend, here’s a timely look with DIMS.. http://tinyurl.com/ncnqcz #
• Tokyo hotels people want to stay in: 1. Imperial (Teikoku); 2. Hilton; 3. Ritz-Carlton; 4. Intercontinental; 5. Okura (goo Research) #
• goo Research starts Twitterable one point surveys: They’re calling them 自画自賛, jigajisan, or tooting one&#8.. http://tinyurl.com/nuscsp #
• Foreign cars people want to ride: 1. Beemer; 2. Benz; 3. Ferrari; 4. Porsche; 5. Audi; 6. VW; 7. Mini; 8. Jag; 9. Rolls (goo Research) #
• Foreign cars one LEAST want to ride: 1.Mercury; 2.Pontiac; 3.Hyundai; 4.Tata; 5. GMC; 6. Saab; 7. Dodge; 8. Smart; 9. Bugatti (goo Research) #
• Favourite coffee chains: 1. Starbucks; 2. Dotour; 3. Tully’s; 4. San Marcs; 5. Kohikan (goo Research) #
• Google Street View for theme parks in Japan: With a great deal of fuss regarding privacy in Japan related to Goo.. http://tinyurl.com/krbxuz #
• Top Japanese Dorama (yuk hate that spelling) channel: 1. Fuji; 2. TBS; 3. NTV; 4. Asahi. 51% surf for drama info, (iShare) #
• Digital signage and in-train television in Japan: Here’s a whole lot of buzzwords relating to the business o.. http://tinyurl.com/ … #
• Why men decide to marry: 1. Want to live together; 2. At marriageable age; 3. Always regret if I don’t: 4. Keep parents happy (goo Ranking) #
• Why women decide to marry: Same top four as men #
• Suprisingly low volume of photos stored by Japanese: Given the high level of ownership of digital cameras report.. http://tinyurl.com/kpmg7w #

They’re calling them 自画自賛, jigajisan, or tooting one’s own horn. The first three (conducted in conjunction with the Yomiuri Shimbun) are on Tokyo hotels people want to stay in, foreign cars people want to ride, and favourite coffee shops.

I’ll be Twittering them for your enjoyment.

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-07: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-31: Moving house in Japan: Recently, D.. http://tinyurl.com/pb7czj #
• First kiss thoughts in Japan: Here’s another great survey from goo Ranking, this time looking at what went.. http://tinyurl.com/r9j7ak #
• Eating lunch with colleagues: 46% frequently; 34% occasionally; 19% never. Reasons for: 44% habit; 31% enjoyable; 19% always asked (iShare) #
• Lunch with colleagues: 46% frequently; 34% occasionally; 19% never. Reasons never: 33% like alone; 25% no custom; 11% dislike talk (iShare) #
• Three in five not exploring Eco Points: With the recent introduction of the Eco Points system of awards for buyi.. http://tinyurl.com/mqdqx5 #
• Foreign currency investments held by almost one in six Japanese: Given that the interest rates on saving in Japa.. http://tinyurl.com/mjea9o #
• Mobile SNS: free games big draw in Japan: I haven’t seen anything on SNS for a while, so I was pleased to .. http://tinyurl.com/kjac5w #
• Keyboard habits of Japanese computer users: There’s one very useful figure in this survey conducted by Mar.. http://tinyurl.com/lea2tm #
• Contextual blog advertisements least popular kind in Japan: Here is the latest set of results from goo Research&.. http://twurl.nl/s0azj5 #
• Habits for US$200K salary: 1. Actively widen human network; 2. Set long-term goals; 3. Positive thinking; 4. Read paper daily (goo Ranking) #
• New Flu preventive measures: 1. Wash hands 89%; 2. Gargle 77%; 3. Mask 66%; 4. Air room 24%; 5. Enough sleep 22% (iShare) #
• Quicker payments is electronic cash’s main attraction in Japan: Another regular survey today from goo Research, .. http://tinyurl.com/ljudgf #
• Got my vanity Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/ken.yn #

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-31: Moving house in Japan: Recently, DIMSDRIVE Research took a look at the ma.. http://tinyurl.com/l3gnxl #
• Laughable lateness excuses that might just work: Here’s a quickie from goo Ranking on excuses for being la.. http://tinyurl.com/lj55bn #
• I can’t believe they sell that in Japan!: Here’s a ranking survey from goo Ranking, as usual, that I never.. http://tinyurl.com/n2m4kd #
• Swine flu virus infected 1 in 300 Japanese: Although there are just 371 or so confirmed cases of the “new-.. http://tinyurl.com/n6ccup #
• Japanese computer maker brand image: The “Japanese” in the title refers to the people answering the .. http://tinyurl.com/lt8pvq #
• Japanese cats beat dogs in blogs: Here’s a topic that makes me purr with satisfaction, a recent survey fro.. http://tinyurl.com/ql5oww #
• Corporate sports in Japan: This survey from MyVoice into corporate sports looked at the issue of companies fundi.. http://tinyurl.com/ow8ake #
• School uniforms kept in one in four Japanese women’s closets: This recent survey from iShare looking at school a.. http://tinyurl.com/nebcze #

• Moving house in Japan: Recently, DIMSDRIVE Research took a look at the matter of moving house.
  Demographics Betw.. http://tinyurl.com/qwebqb #
• How to tell her it’s over in Japan: Today’s first dose of sillyness from goo Ranking is a look at the best.. http://tinyurl.com/qv6r37 #
• Keeping her on her toes: For the second dose of sillyness for tonight, once again we have goo Ranking, this time.. http://tinyurl.com/q8767e #
• Power-napping in Japan: I’m sure most of us who have worked in Japan have experienced a colleague sleeping.. http://tinyurl.com/psgctm #
• Move over Apple’s Jesus Phone, here’s the Buddha Phone!: Looking around the web, about a year ago there was an e.. http://tinyurl.com/owauy3 #
• Regular bookmark maintenance performed by one in four Japanese: This is one of these surveys that might be inter.. http://tinyurl.com/qz7qup #
• Curious: http://www.tde.jp is TM-based cosmetics, energy quackery etc, but no Wikipedia entry, little web feedback. Hmm #
• How new graduates view their workplace in Japan: Most university graduates start work in Japan on or around the .. http://tinyurl.com/o4xpql #
• Hi my Tweeting friends - a new feature for WJT: I’ll occasionally Tweet surveys or extracts too short to post to the blog. #
• Should Japan buy farmland overseas? 36% agree, 43% disagree. (goo Research/Economist) #
• Do you allow staff to take second jobs? 42 corporationss No, 2 corps No policy, 1 corp Yes (TV news survey) #
• Internet video top 5 watched comedians: 1. Audrey; 2. Down-Town; 3. Sandwich Man; 4. Nights; 5. Ramens (iShare) #
• Top 5 favourite comedians: 1. Audrey; 2. Nights; 3. Bakusho Mondai; 4. Down-Town; 5. Ninety-nine (iShare) #
• Favourite ex-Prime Minister: 1. Jun-chan 29.2%; 2. Shinzo Abe 8.8%, consisting Taro Aso supporters 31.4%, non-supporters 3.0% (iShare) #
• Taro Aso support rate in 20-49 net users: Support 24.3%; Don’t support 53.7%. Stronger with men, 20-29 age group (iShare) #
• WJT goes all a-twitter: For some reason I have acquired about 150 followers on Twitter, so to try to serve them .. http://tinyurl.com/pn7t9n #
• Majority dissatisfied with mobile pricing in Japan: The results of this survey from Marsh Inc and reported on by.. http://tinyurl.com/qrskuh #
• Diaries, hobbies and food most popular Japanese blog themes: Although recently I’ve translated a number of.. http://tinyurl.com/m27dfp #
• What women wish men would care about: 1. Nose hair; 2. Dandruff; 3. Food in teeth; 4. Dirty nails; 5. Too much aftershave (goo Ranking) #
• Most accurate divination: 1. Palm reading; 2. Four Pillars of Destiny; 3. Six-Star Astrology; 4. Blood type; 5. Feng Shui (goo Ranking) #
• Smartphones not impressing many in Japan: This month’s regular look at mobile phone upgrade needs (the 46t.. http://tinyurl.com/nhcb2j #

For some reason I have acquired about 150 followers on Twitter, so to try to serve them better and to add a new feature to What Japan Thinks, I will be making occasional Tweets of data from surveys that I choose not to translate in full, and from other sources like TV and newspapers. Also, I might post tips and links, but I’ll try to avoid joining in with the banality on all sides.

If you can’t see what all the fuss is about Twitter, don’t worry as I’m using Twitter Tools, which should summarise all my Tweets once a week and auto-post to this blog.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a tasting session and blogger face-to-face meeting at Genius Cafe to try out some cakes for the upcoming Kobe Sweets Festa 2009 from the 1st to 6th of May 2009 on the 8th and 9th floors of Daimaru Motomachi.

Mmm, doughtnuts! The theme for this year is doughnuts; the usual association is with cheap efforts from Mister Donuts or the enormous queues for Krispy Kremes, so here they are trying something different by asking cake shops to come up with their own high-end doughnuts. In the picture, the nearest one was Baumkuchen, next was a not overpoweringly sugared apple honey, then mocha chocolate, and strawberry.

Ahh, lots more to write, but I’ll save it up for a forthcoming guest blog spot on Nihon Sun. By the way, see if you can spot me in this series of pictures. To spread the link love, at the event I sat beside the King of Noodles and Bu-ko Hankyu Railway virtual stationmaster.

All my photos from the event may be found here on flickr.