世論 What Japan Thinks

The health topic of the last couple of years in Japan has most certainly been Metabolic Syndrome, having certain characteristics associated with being fat that make you more prone to lifestyle diseases like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Many countries have slightly different diagnostic measures; for Japan it is a waist greater than 85 cm for men, 90 cm for women; triglycerids greater than 150 mg/dL and/or HDL cholesterol of under 40 mg/dL; blood pressure greater than 130 over 85; and glucose level of 110 mg/dL or more.

With the recent introduction of mandatory screening for MetS (to use the official abbreviation), goo Research in conjunction with the Mainichi Shimbun decided to investigate what people think of these metabo examinations.

Demographics

Between the 4th and 6th of April 2008 1,088 members of the goo Research monitor group over the age of 20 completed a private internet-based questionnaire. Further demographic data was not provided. Note that the sample size for some of the questions are not given and that answers have been abbreviated.

I’ve been chosen as a guinea pig for our company screening, but I might have forgotten to attend the test. I’ve lost the bit of paper, I think, and it looked more like an excuse to try to sell me life insurance.

Note that the new screening system is not just getting diagnosed as fat, but also includes health improvement advice and instruction.
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Softbank has just recently reported that for each of the last twelve months they have reported the highest growth in new contracts of all the mobile companies, and if the results from this recent survey, the 37th regular modile phone upgrade needs survey, by goo Research and published on japan.internet.com is anything to go on, Softbank’s growth looks set to continue.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 23rd of April 2008 1,000 members of the goo Research monitor group, and although it is not explicitly stated the figures imply that they all have mobile phones. 52.0% were female, 1.2% in their teens, 15.3% in their twenties, 39.7% in their thirties, 27.1% in their forties, and 16.7% aged fifty or older.

Softbank has been heavily pushing their voice discount services, with intra-family calls being free all the time as one of the biggest selling points. DoCoMo’s response has been to offer the same deal, but only to those who have been with the company ten years or more! I am just now eligible for that, but I’ve got so used to using email that I cannot be bothered with it, myself!

I don’t know if there is a connection, but recently there’s been more people speaking on mobiles in trains – now that would be another interesting topic to investigate!
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goo Research, in conjunction with All About Japan recently conducted a survey into the matter of young women and studying.

Demographics

Between the 26th and 31st of March 2008 1,052 female members of the goo Research monitor panel aged between 25 and 44 and who lived in Tokyo or the three surrounding prefectures completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 25.3% were between 25 and 29 years, old, 24.8% between 30 and 34, 24.4% between 35 and 39, and 25.5% between 40 and 44. 66.6% were married.

Note that studying is a rather broad heading here, covering anything with an instructor involved. Also, only training started from age 20 or older is considered; doing ballet as a kid doesn’t count.

The one thing I’m studying, or at least should be studying, is kanji; I hope to sit the test for the next level in October. The one thing I want to learn is the game of go. When I was a kid I played it, but it would be nice to get formal lessons from somewhere.

I am also learning how to write headlines for blog posts that attract clicks…
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Ahh, the youth of today! If it wasn’t hard enough to follow Japanese in the first place, the kids are using romaji (roman alphabet) abbreviations that make LOL, BRB and CUL8R seem so simple. This survey from goo Research in conjuction with the Yomiuri Shimbun into in-vogue abbreviations looked at their use and abuse.

Demographics

Between the 25th and 28th of March 2008 533 young people from the goo Research monitor panel completed a private internet-based questionnaire. The report says there was a 1:1 male to female ratio, but that would leave one extra. The age split is not noted, but 35% of the respondents were students, 30% were full-time employees, and 11% were home-makers.

I think most foreign residents of Japan will have heard of KY at least; indeed, one of the best selling non-fiction books these days is a KY Dictionary!

When the survey questions mention “conversation”, I believe it is referring to spoken language, not email.

Q3 is probably wrong in many places, so I hope my readers can point me in the right direction!

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Email newsletter, or as they are known in Japanese English mail magazines (which is usually then abbreviated to meru-maga) are a popular way for companies to communicate with their customers and potential customers. To find out how popular, japan.internet.com reported on a recent survey conducted by goo Research into email newsletters.

Demographics

Over the 20th and 21st of January 2008 (don’t ask me why japan.internet.com took three months to report!) 1,100 members of the goo Research online monitor group successfully completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 14.4% in their teens, 20.3% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 16.2% in their forties, and 27.6% aged fifty or older.

I run a wee newsletter myself, just a weekly summary of my surveys, other interesting news, stuff about blogging, and rounded off with something interesting or strange that happened to me in the past week. If you’d like to join or check the archives, visit the 世論 What Japan Thinks Google Groups Newsletter or sign up with this form:

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Although mixi still rules the Japan Social Networking Service market in Japan, this 12th regular SNS survey from goo Research and reported on by japan.internet.com showed some changes lower down in the rankings.

Demographics

Between the 7th and 9th of April 2008 1,091 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample were male, 16.5% in their teens, 18.2% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 16.3% in their forties, 15.7% in their fifties, and 11.8% aged sixty or older.

As lots of people seem to be looking for invites to mixi, both xorsyst and Tofugu are offering them. Note that you seem to need a Japanese mobile phone in order to sign up.

My SNS participation is limited to my rather static personal and web site Facebook pages. I’ll respond to any friend requests, but don’t expect anything more out of me!
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I’ve only really heard of PLC through work, as other departments produce a quite successful range of devices. PLC, or Power Line Communication, is communicating over domestic power lines. It’s a cheap and easy way to network and free from the security issues associated with wireless, although prone to noise from other electrical devices. To see what is going on in the average Japanese home, goo Research conducted a survey, reported on by japan.internet.com, into PLC.

Demographics

Between the 10th and 12th of April 2008 1,098 members of the goo Research online monitor group successfully completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 53.8% of the sample was male, 17.8% in their teens, 19.2% in their twenties, 15.8% in their thirties, 16.9% in their forties, 18.2% in their fifties, and 12.1% aged sixty or older.

PLC really is quite idiot-proof, I hear. Just plug both ends into an available socket, connect one end to your internet line, the other to your PC, and Bob’s your uncle. Transmission speeds are up to 100 Mbps, so I hear.

I personally don’t need PLC, as my home came wired with hot and cold running broadband in every room.
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With the main hay fever, in particular cedar fever, season nearly over, this report from japan.internet.com on a survey by goo Research Inc into hay fever is interesting to see how it has affected people this spring.

Demographics

Between the 3rd and 5th of April 2008 1,096 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.9% of the sample was male, 16.4% in their teens, 18.1% in their twenties, 21.2% in their thirties, 16.3% in their forties, 16.1% in their fifties, and 11.9% aged sixty or older.

I actually had my worst hay fever this year, when about three weeks ago my nose started running freely. I went to a local ear, nose and throat clinic and got some anti-histamines, nasal spray and eye drops. The pills knocked me for six, such that I was unable to take the prescribed two per day, just one, and I quit after three days. The nose spray did the trick, though, and although it lasted less than two weeks I’ve had almost no problems even after it finished.
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Having looked in passing at English lessons in Second Life just a few days ago, this time it’s Second Life in general, with a survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by goo Research, their 6th regular Second Life survey.

Demographics

Between the 24th and 27th of March 2008 1,091 members of the goo Research online monitor group successfully completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 53.0% of the sample was male, 16.1% in their teens, 18.2% in their twenties, 21.4% in their thirties, 16.0% in their forties, and 28.2% aged fifty or older.

Second Life, or Sadville as The Register calls it, is an online 3D virtual world where you can do and build whatever you want, but most things inevitably end up revolving around sex of often a rather perverted nature.

I personally have never played and have no intention of doing so, not least because my poor PC isn’t up to taking the strain.
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A recent survey from goo Research, conducted in conjuction with the All About Japan web site, looked at awareness of crime prevention in those living alone.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 23rd of January 2008 1,017 members of the goo Research online monitor panel aged between 20 and 34, single and living alone, and regular full-time employees completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.2% of the sample was female, 28.0% was aged between 20 and 24, 39.4% between 25 and 29, and 32.6% between 30 and 34.

I’m very suprised by the results of Q6 as shown in the pie chart above. Barely one in twenty are on speaking terms with the neighbours, which is much lower than I might have expected. I’d love to hear the reasons why.

Just to explain the anti thumb-turn covers, these try to prevent one kind of housebreaking attack where someone sticks a wire through your letterbox and turns the lock from the inside.
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