Easter in Japan

Japan’s largest recipe sharing site, CookPad, recently conducted a survey into Easter.

Demographics

Between the 17th and 20th of February 2015 2,599 people subscribed to the CookPad email newsletter completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 89% of the sample were female, 11% male, 2% were in their teens, 13% in their twenties, 31% in their thirties, 33% in their forties, and 21% aged fifty or older.

I’m quite suprised, indeed I find it difficult to believe that according to Q1SQ1 almost one in four know that Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox; I doubt if you’d get that high a figure even in a Christian country!

Suprisingly, chocolate Easter eggs are not a thing here, but around my local station, a cake shop is selling cute bunny and chick-themed petit fours, and an ice cream shop similarly-themed ice cream novelties.

Research results

Q1: Do you know “Easter”? (Sample size=2,599)

Yes (to SQ1)	77%
No	23%

Q1SQ1: Which of the following do you know regarding Easter? (Sample size=2,000, multiple answer)

Eggs are a symbol of ressurection	63%
Recently, even in Japan, Easter events are being held at theme parks, etc	42%
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, an event to celebrate the ressurection of Christ	31%
Rabbits are a symbol of fertility	24%
In 2015 Easter is the 5th of April	8%
Other	3%
Nothing in particular, just the name	22%

Q1SQ2: Last year, what did you do regarding Easter? (Sample size=2,000, multiple answer)

Went to an event at a theme park, etc	10%
Made an Easter Egg	8%
Bought Easter goods	7%
Ate an Easter dish	7%
Other	3%
Didn’t do anything	75%

Q1SQ3: This year, do you want to do something related to Easter? (Sample size=2,000)

Yes (to SQ4)	57%
No	43%

Q1SQ4: This year, what do you what to do related to Easter? (Sample size=1,139, multiple answer)

Want to do something, but don’t know what to do	46%
Eat an Easter dish	30%
Make an Easter Egg	26%
Go to an event at a theme park, etc	17%
Buy Easter goods	14%
Other	3%

Q1SQ5: This year, why do you want to do something related to Easter? (Sample size=1,139, multiple answer)

Want to enjoy a home party with family, friends	38%
Easter goods, motifs are cute, elegant	37%
Want to pass on seasonal events to my children	35%
Got interested in it after seeing something about it at a theme park, on television, etc	22%
Want to adopt overseas culture	20%
Want to share photos, messages with people through SNS, etc	9%
Other	5%