Over 70% of Japanese worried about life: gov't poll

Sunday 17th August, 07:02 AM JST

TOKYO —

Just over 70 percent of Japanese men and women are worried about their everyday lives, topping the 70 percent mark for the first time, according to a Cabinet Office survey released Saturday. The reading of 70.8 percent, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous survey in July last year, suggests that respondents have grown concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s pension system and the economy. In questions allowing multiple responses, 57.7 percent of the respondents said they were worried about planning their future lives, 42.4 percent said they were concerned about the outlook for income and assets, and 49.0 percent expressed concern about their health.

In the survey, 76.2 percent of respondents in their 50s and 74.4 percent in their 40s expressed such concerns, according to the office, which interviewed a total of 10,000 men and women across Japan in June. Valid responses were received from 61.5 percent. The numbers reflect a strong sense of crisis among middle-aged people about life in the future. Asked about their standard of living, 61.3 percent said it was unchanged, down 9.0 points, and 34.1 percent said it had worsened, up 9.6 points. Only 4.4 percent said their standard of living had improved, almost unchanged from the previous survey. In questions allowing multiple responses, 72.8 percent said they wanted the government to reform the social security system including health and pensions to better cope with the aging of the country’s population, followed by 57.2 percent who called for measures to address the aging of society, 56.7 percent who called for steps to curb sharp price increases and 56.1 percent who wanted an economic stimulus package.

Kyodo

Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

Pukey2 at 01:37 PM JST - 17th August

'Abunai'? 'Dame'?

Are you all sure? The parents I see on the streets let their kids run wild, right next to traffic. They don't even bat an eyelid when their toddlers cross the roads on their own. I've seen young kids serve left and right while drivers try to avoid them.
Pukey2 at 01:37 PM JST - 17th August

I've seen young kids serve left and right ... on their bikes, I mean.
chardk1 at 01:52 PM JST - 17th August

If mom didn't say "Abunai!" or "Dame! the kids would probably either get run over by a car or grow up to be real brats.

It seems to happen pretty often despite all the warning . . .
MrMukatsuku at 01:53 PM JST - 17th August

In the survey, 76.2 percent of respondents in their 50s and 74.4 percent in their 40s expressed such concerns, according to the office, which interviewed a total of 10,000 men and women across Japan in June. Valid responses were received from 61.5 percent.

Interviewed? ... and 38.5% gave invalid responses?

Surely this whole survey must be invalidated because it has obviously been delivered in a sloppy manner.

On the other hand, there is the possibility of massaging the statistics by incorrectly invalidating individual responses. For example, if many more than 70.8% of the respondents showed concern about the pension system and the economy it could reflect very badly on the current administration, further fuelling their demise.

...according to a Cabinet Office survey released Saturday. The reading of 70.8 percent, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous survey in July last year, suggests that respondents have grown concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s pension system and the economy.

Better to invalidate individual responses and make a small 1.3% jump in concern rather than showing the electorate the true figures and shoot yourself in the foot.

IMHO this could have been a contributing factor to the recent cabinet reshuffle, so that any criticism of the new cabinet could be deflected on the previous 'inept' cabinet.
Bovinus at 02:10 PM JST - 17th August

A lack of optimism in Japan? Surely not!
some14some at 02:14 PM JST - 17th August

No use conducting such polls in a country where people end up saying 'shouganai'
WMD at 02:34 PM JST - 17th August

Life is all about worry and anxiety and then you die. I was told this by a japanese colleague. I think the problem is that country is a sexless country. If you get it on regularly, doesn't life seem much more reasonable?
LIBERTAS at 02:58 PM JST - 17th August

Well, given the maelstrom of corruption that runs Japan, I'd say "worry" is kinda mild. They should be petrified!
serindipity at 04:19 PM JST - 17th August

Hey! Doesn't everybody worry about the same stuff? I know I do! I don't understand the point of this at all. Screwy!
rajakumar at 05:22 PM JST - 17th August

The only fear or worry, is fear/worry itself.
MrMukatsuku at 06:43 PM JST - 17th August

"You'll die if you worry and you'll die if you don't... Why worry?"
isthistheend at 07:28 PM JST - 17th August

Yes, that "There's no ginger" saying is really pervasive. I keep seeing ginger all around when I go to the supermarkets. I wonder why they keep saying it. (only joking, o.k.?) Don't Worry, Be Happy is the healthy motto, like many have mentioned above. And just tell that fat bloke who crowds you on the train to move the hey over, and that OL who wants to use her elbows on the trains to get out, but only on foreigners she'd better watch her elbows, I can see she wants out, and I'm moving as best I can. Especially during this hot spell we're having.
Triple888 at 08:03 PM JST - 17th August

This is very bad news. A worried population is an insecure nation. This is weakness and a potential social disaster!
cwhite at 12:17 AM JST - 18th August

nah, they got it wrong. Everyone is worried about life one way or another. Japanese are just more open to say they are worried about so and so, while Westerners prefer to keep quiet. I just switch on CNN or BBC and I see worried people all over the planet especially after the sub-prime money problems, job problems, oil prices, etc... You would have to be in denial not to have any worries, why else would you bother to better yourself if you were worry free. On the other hand maybe the super obese people are somewhat worry free or the paradox would be being overweight has become the number one worry.
8iamhappy8 at 12:55 PM JST - 19th August

Oh, hey, there's a big surprise in the 1.3 percent increase... Because, OMG, I don't think we're in a global economy slump triggered by the spill-over of the US subprime mortgage crisis. In other words, the bad times are not here to stay for at least another year. It's not a well known fact that stock markets, which is a reflection of the economy, perform poorly in the first year of a new US presidency...