世論 What Japan Thinks

Here’s a little bit of Japanese rail transport recent history I wasn’t aware of, uncovered in a survey by goo Research and reported on by japan.internet.com into railway station message boards. It appears that these blackboards could be used not just for official announcements, but also by the public for passing messages. Now, of course, the mobile phone has replaced the need.

Demographics

Between the 12th and 16th of July 2010 1,051 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.3% of the sample were male, 16.6% in their teens, 18.6% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 16.0% in their forties, 15.5% in their fifties, and 12.0% aged sixty or older.

There’s no notice board in my station in an obvious place, although I think I remember seeing one when I had to go to the station office, but it is probably used for internal communication only. Here’s a sample board, with the message saying “A perv was here”, taken by Tomozo on flickr.

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Read more on: goo ranking,notice board,station

It’s been a while since I’ve had a FAIL post, so here goes with a look at what Japanese females think are men’s summer fashion FAILs.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 23rd of June 2010 1,137 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 65.1% of the sample were female, 8.0% in their teens, 20.4% in their twenties, 31.2% in their thirties, 23.9% in their forties, 9.2% in their fifties, and 7.2 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. In addition, this question was for females only.

I don’t do any of these fashion FAILs, but my pet FAIL are Crocs regardless of the season, and Jesus sandals annoy me for some reason. I’m not really sure about number 12, lots of silver – is silver supposed to be trendy in this weather?
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Today’s bit of fun from goo Ranking is a look at when women feel there’s an ulterior motive behind a man’s actions. There’s no equivalent survey for men yet, but I’ll be sure to publish it when it appears!

Demographics

Between the 21st and 23rd of June 2010 1,137 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 65.1% of the sample were female, 8.0% in their teens, 20.4% in their twenties, 31.2% in their thirties, 23.9% in their forties, 9.2% in their fifties, and 7.2 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. In addition, this question was for females only.

I think the premise of the question is wrong, myself – is there anything we guys do in relationships that doesn’t have an ulterior motive?
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Read more on: date,goo ranking,ulterior

This latest survey from goo Ranking looked at what aspects of current coworkers do they hate.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 24th of May 2010 1,152 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 61.0% of the sample were male, 11.2% in their teens, 20.7% in their twenties, 28.8% in their thirties, 21.8% in their forties, 10.2% in their fifties, and 7.3% 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.

My complaints would be constant sniffing and passive-aggressive behaviour. I’d also admit to doing more than one or two of the activities on the list…
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Read more on: goo ranking,work

As well as being one of the more popular hobbies in Japan, driving is also a popular date activity. However, the mood can be spoilt, so this survey from goo Ranking looked at what got the passenger annoyed at the driver and the driver annoyed at the passenger.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 24th of May 2010 1,152 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 61.0% of the sample were male, 11.2% in their teens, 20.7% in their twenties, 28.8% in their thirties, 21.8% in their forties, 10.2% in their fifties, and 7.3% 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.

Given the nature of dating and the relationship of the sexes, I would guess that most of the passengers are female and the drivers are male.

As my wife doesn’t have a licence, her back-seat driving particularly irritates me, followed closely by her terrible directions, occasionally overriding the car navigation’s correct route. Then there’s the constant toilet breaks, lack of distance awareness in both “Are we there yet?” and in setting up 500 km routes that don’t take into account the effect of tiredness on me. And then there’s… I’d better stop now.

Photo of a taxi traffic jam from MatthewRad on flickr.
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Read more on: car,date,goo ranking

Here’s a fun look at when Japanese feel embarrassed by their lack of English ability, with the top ten moments for both men and women. This survey was, as usual, from goo Ranking.

Demographics

Between the 23rd and 26th of April 2010 1,187 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-base questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.1% in their teens, 17.4% in their twenties, 30.9% in their thirties, 24.9% in their forties, 10.1% in their fifties, and 6.5% 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.

Even though Japanese study English for at least six years in school and it is, as far as I am aware, a compulsory subject in most universities, the level of English is pretty poor, quite frankly. There was some news recently that Uniqlo will make English the office language from next year. I was watching television tonight and they were talking about Samsung, who now sell more electrical goods than the top nine Japanese manufacturers put together, and they will be making English the official company language too. The program compared English levels; Japanese electronic firms set a TOEIC score of between 530 and 700 for management-level jobs, yet Samsung require 700 just to get in the door, then 920 to progress to management, which is pretty close to native fluency.
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Read more on: english,goo ranking

goo Ranking recently took a look at a question that seems simple at first glace, why did you decide to marry, for both men deciding and women deciding.

Demographics

Between the 23rd and 26th of April 2010 1,187 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-base questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.1% in their teens, 17.4% in their twenties, 30.9% in their thirties, 24.9% in their forties, 10.1% in their fifties, and 6.5% 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. Only the men in the sample answered this question.

As a cultural note, “Because he’d/she’d decided to change jobs” implies more a posting within the company to a differnt town rather than actually changing employers, and more often than not these postings are effectively mandatory and at short notice.

As another cultural note, given the number of shotgun weddings in the country I’m surprised that that reason was so low in the ranking here!
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Read more on: gender,goo ranking,marriage

Anyone bringing out an iPhone or, heaven forfend, an iPad at a gokon dating party would get nothing but ridicule (or a punch in the iGob, if I was feeling generous) from me, but regardless, this survey from goo Ranking and probably sponsored by Apple looked at the top twenty dating party applications for the iPhone

Demographics

Between the 21st and 24th of May 2010 perhaps around 1,100 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. Unfortunately, the link to the demographics is broken, so I cannot give any more information that that 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.

Quite frankly, all these games sound rather naff to me, but then again I’m not in the target audience! Have any of my readers tried out any of the below at a real party?
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Read more on: apple,gokon,goo ranking,iphone

goo Ranking takes us to a gokon dating party again, this time looking at what sort of person gets points against them on first meeting at a dating party, for both women looking at men and men looking at women.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 24th of May 2010 perhaps around 1,100 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. Unfortunately, the link to the demographics is broken, so I cannot give any more information that that 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.

Given that in Japan non-smoking restaurants are the exception rather than the rule, I’m surprised that smoking doesn’t rank way up near the top of the list, in particular smoking without asking if it is OK with everyone else.

For me, not laughing at gags would be a plus point, as the Japanese sense of humour as seen in visual comedy does absolutely nothing for me, on the whole.
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Read more on: gender,gokon,goo ranking

To make up for my short off-line period, here’s an excellent survey from goo Ranking, looking at what over the top urban legends people would want to learn more about.

Demographics

Between the 23rd and 26th of April 2010 1,187 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-base questionnaire. 61.4% of the sample were female, 10.1% in their teens, 17.4% in their twenties, 30.9% in their thirties, 24.9% in their forties, 10.1% in their fifties, and 6.5% 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.

Number 4 is one I’d like to hear about, as I cannot really imagine what might be hidden by the marathon! For number 6, I think I’ve heard somewhere about Paul McCartney having a Japanese nanny. If any of my readers have heard more about the rumours, or if you want me to investigate more myself, please drop me a line!
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Read more on: goo ranking,urban legend