[part 1] [part 2]
The Cabinet Office Japan recently released a survey into people’s thoughts about public safety in Japan. 3,000 people aged 20 or older were chosen by random, and between the 14th and 24th of December 1,795 of them, or 59.8%, took part in face-to-face interviews. Of those who did not participate, 124 had moved, 79 were on long-term absenses from home, 365 were not at home, 58 could not be found, 514 refused to participate, and 65 did not take part for other reasons. Demographically, 54.1% were female, 8.9% between 20 and 29, 15.0% between 30 and 39, 16.9% between 40 and 49, 21.9% between 50 and 59, 20.7% between 60 and 69, and 16.7% aged 70 or older.
The “gaijin hanzai” comment is related to the recent uproar regarding widespread availability of a magazine playing on precisely the fears expressed in this survey.
When I first heard about this survey I was really keen to get hold of it and translate it, but when I saw quite how much the fear of the foreign peril seems to have been stirred up, I got quite depressed. When the news of this poll appeared on Japan Today I posted a sarcastic comment (that got pulled by the moderators!) about how I was disappointed that foreigners did not make the list of dangers in that summary by Kyodo News. Little did I know that it was perhaps selective editing by the press so as not to hurt our English-speaking feelings. About the only bright spot I can find is that international terror organisations, etc, (with that “etc” covering local terror groups, the main ones so far that have actually attacked Japan) are not high in people’s concern. Note though that Q5 mentioned only international terrorists, there is no “etc”, or other questions on local loony groups.
Q1: Do you think Japan currently has good public order and is a safe country to live in? (Sample size=1,795)
| Think so |
12.3% |
| Somewhat think so |
33.9% |
| Don’t really think so |
35.7% |
| Don’t think so |
16.9% |
| Can’t say either way |
0.9% |
| Don’t know |
0.4% |
Q2: Within the last 10 years do you think that public safety in Japan has improved or got worse? (Sample size=1,795)
| Become better |
2.4% |
| Become somewhat better |
8.9% |
| Become somewhat worse (to SQ) |
46.6% |
| Become worse (to SQ) |
37.7% |
| Can’t say either way |
4.0% |
| Don’t know |
0.4% |
Q2SQ: What do you think are the causes of worsening public order? (Sample size=1,513)
| Crime by foreigners in Japan has increased |
55.1% |
| Sense of community has weakened |
49.0% |
| Child and youth education is insufficient |
48.1% |
| Various information that people can easily get their hands on has flooded in |
43.8% |
| Punishment for crimes is light |
39.3% |
| Citizens’ level of conduct have dropped |
37.2% |
| Economic outlook has worsened |
29.7% |
| Few uniformed officers in police boxes (koban), on patrol, etc |
20.9% |
| Organised crime (yakusa, etc) has increased |
19.3% |
| Police crackdowns have been insufficient |
18.1% |
| Other |
1.3% |
| Don’t know |
0.8% |
Q3: At which locations do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to crime? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
| On the street |
60.2% |
| Shopping districts |
44.7% |
| Cyberspace |
40.1% |
| Public parks |
37.4% |
| Car parks |
24.5% |
| Lifts (elevators) |
21.5% |
| Railway stations |
19.3% |
| At home |
15.9% |
| In trains, aircraft or other transport |
15.5% |
| Other |
0.4% |
| Nowhere in particular |
4.8% |
| Don’t know |
0.7% |
Q4: What sorts of crime do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
| Housebreaking whilst at home |
53.1% |
| Pick-pockets, purse snatching |
50.0% |
| Drunk-driving traffic accidents, hit-and-runs and other traffic dangers |
49.9% |
| Abduction of self or children |
42.5% |
| Violent assault |
42.2% |
| Fraudulent sales or money-forwarding schemes |
41.4% |
| Theft of or from motor vehicles |
40.3% |
| Internet crime |
39.9% |
| Murder, violent robbers |
34.4% |
| Groping or other sexual assault |
28.2% |
| Loan-sharking |
17.5% |
| Stalking |
17.5% |
| Bosozoku bike gang dangerous riding, noise pollution, etc |
17.2% |
| Drug sales, drug abuse |
13.9% |
| International terrorist organisations or other terrorist incidents |
13.2% |
| Other |
0.2% |
| None in particular |
2.5% |
| Don’t know |
0.6% |
Q5: To what kinds of individuals or organisations do you worry that you or those close to you might fall victim to? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
| Emotionally unstable or random slashers, etc |
59.9% |
| Habitual criminals; thieves, etc |
43.3% |
| Foreign crime gangs and illegal immigrants |
38.9% |
| Bosozoku or juvenile delinquent gangs |
37.7% |
| Yakusa and other organised crime |
29.8% |
| Drug dealers or users |
17.0% |
| International terrorist organisations or international terrorists |
12.8% |
| Other |
0.2% |
| None in particular |
6.8% |
| Don’t know |
2.1% |
Q6: Recently, which of the following crime trends do you think there has been? (Sample size=1,795, multiple answer)
| Criminals are becoming younger |
77.2% |
| Crime is becoming more cruel |
66.5% |
| Crimes targeting old folk or children are increasing |
61.3% |
| Crimes occur with simpler motivations |
58.4% |
| Indiscriminate crimes in broad daylight are increasing |
51.6% |
| Crimes on the internet are increasing |
43.6% |
| Crimes by foreigners are increasing |
41.9% |
| Crimes are becoming more complicated and ingenious |
29.2% |
| Yakuza, theft gangs, and other organised crime is increasing |
14.0% |
| Other |
0.3% |
| None in particular |
0.4% |
| Don’t know |
0.3% |
[part 1] [part 2]
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2 Comments
Lily D'Auru · November 18, 2010 at 12:03
I’m not sure, to be honest. Japan is a beautiful and complicated country. I feel it’s best summed up in this documentary.
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