?? What Japan Thinks
From kimono to keitai; research Japanese facts and figures through translated opinion polls and surveys.
Legal loansharks not attractive to most Japanese
(May 14)
Thanks to legislation in the last couple of years, the rates of interest for personal unsecured loans have dropped from around 27% to a much lower but still outrageously expensive 10% to 19%. To see how these and other changes have affected consumer opinions, MyVoice conducted a survey into personal loans, their fifth annual survey, [...]
Real versus virtual friends on mixi
(May 13)
This recent survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by JR Tokai Express Research Inc looks at the giant of the Japanese Social Networking Service market, mixi.
Demographics
On the 30th of April 2008 330 members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor group employed in the private sector completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 70.6% of the [...]
Cell phone spam daily plague for almost one in three Japanese
(May 12)
As the proud owner of a spam-free cell phone, this survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by JR Tokai Express Research Inc into this topic of cell phone spam was rather interesting to see.
Demographics
Between the 1st and 4th of May 2008 312 members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor group who were mobile [...]
Top thirty cutest corporate mascots in Japan
(May 11)
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/business_finance/Top_30_Cutest_Corporate_Mascots_From_Japan_PICS';
As well as being suitably silly for your Sunday entertainment, this recent survey from goo Ranking into Japan’s cutest corporate mascot is also an excuse to introduce a new blog, Japanese mascots, which does just what it says on the tin.
Demographics
Over the 21st and 22nd of March 2008 1,036 people from the goo [...]
Metabolic syndrome may affect three in ten Japanese
(May 10)
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 [...]
Broadband reaching over nine in ten Japanese internet users
(May 9)
Just about the only thing in Japan that is noticably cheaper than anywhere else is broadband, with 4,000 yen per month (US$40, UK&147;20 or so) being on the expensive side for proper broadband (often 10 Mbps or more). To see how that low price is shaping the market, please study this survey from Marsh Inc [...]
Eating alone in Japan
(May 8)
Eating alone is something I do quite a bit myself, and I do find it relaxing to have peace and quiet for a few minutes every day. To see what image Japanese people have of this, MyVoice recently conducted a survey into this topic of eating alone.
Demographics
Over the first five days of April 2008 14,878 [...]
News site usage patterns in Japan
(May 7)
Not too surprisingly, Yahoo! comes out on top as the most frequently used news site in Japan, but there are still many interesting results in this survey from MyVoice into news sites.
Demographics
Over the first four days of April 2008 14,913 members of the MyVoice internet community successfully completed a private online questionnaire. 54% of the [...]
Miscellaneous news for 7th May 2008
(May 7)
You may remember the Neko-punch Google-slap I got for running Text Link Ads that I reported on last year. Having seen my income die horribly in AdSense then slowly wither through Text Link Ads, I finally decided to ditch TLA, then use Google’s Webmaster Tools to beg for my PageRank back. I did this on [...]
Bloody Japanese tourists!
(May 6)
With the Golden Week holidays over today, this will be the final filler ranking survey (they’re always quick and easy to translate!) this time on the holiday theme of what typical Japanese tourist behaviour people end up doing on overseas holidays.
Demographics
Over the 21st and 22nd of March 2008 1,036 people from the goo Research monitor [...]
