University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0010
Survey Title Survey of Japanese People's Life Values, 1985
Depositor Japan Institute of Life Insurance
Restriction of Use For detailed information, please refer to 'For Data Users' at SSJDA website.

- Apply to SSJDA. SSJDA's approval required.
Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
Access to Datasets Download
Nesstar Not available
Summary This study stems from A Study on Japanese Values conducted in a 1976-77 period (first of the kind). The original survey aimed at investigating values in the depths of the Japanese consciousness by asking the public a total of 101 questions. At that time, a factor analysis identified the four specific values of adult-ism (otona-shugi), autism (jihei-shugi ), traditionalism (dento-shugi ) and agency orientation (shutaisei-shiko ). The past decade, however, has seen considerable changes in the social environment such as aging, women's progress, advanced information, internationalization, and financial liberalization, calling for a new framework for grasping people's consciousness. In an attempt to reconsider the existing framework, this study not only asks 107 opinion questions to seek Japanese values but also looks into Japanese life consciousness by suggesting its dimensions from various perspectives. Analysis of data indicates that the values on life among the contemporary Japanese are structured along the main axes of adult-ism on the one hand and me-ism (jibun-shugi ) and orientation toward easiness (anraku shiko ) on the other, with adult-ism further divided into the subcategories of orientation toward humane feelings (ninjomi-shiko ) and orientation toward familial future (kazoku-teki shorai shiko ), and me-ism into those of orientation toward self-reliance (jiritsu shiko ) and orientation toward self-exposure (jiko-kenji shiko ).
Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Male and female individuals, aged between 16 and 70.
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size 1,448 responses from a sample of 2,000 such individuals (Rate of return: 72.4%)
Date of Collection 1985-06-01 ~ 1985-06-01
June, 1985
Time Period 1985 ~ 1985
Spatial Unit Japan
All over Japan
Sampling Procedure Probability: Stratified
Probability: Multistage
Two-stage stratified random sampling
Mode of Data Collection Face-to-face interview
Face-to-face interviewing by interviewers.
Investigator Japan Institute of Life Insurance. The field work was performed by Chuo Chosa-sha.
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0010
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Japan Institute of Life Insurance (January, 1987) Dai-nikai nihonjin no seikatsu kachikan chosa [The Second Study on Japanese Values]
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Chosa-hyo]
Major Survey Items Demographic items:
Sex, age, marital status, occupation, last school attended, composition of family living with Respondent, lineal relations with household head, public pensioners in household, and annual household income and savings.
Value-related items:
R's abilities; R's ability to judge and decide; R's courage and spontaneity; importance of health; sense of fulfillment and achievement on the job; hobbies and recreation; pursuit of wealth; pursuit of status and power; future; financial stability and maintenance in living; mental stability in living; children's growth and education; marital relations and child-parent relations; family and home; ancestors, genealogy, and lineage; respect for the individual; humanity and personality; importance of sincerity and honesty; being "respected" and "liked" by others; importance of obligation and humane feelings (giri, ninjo ); cooperation and harmony with others; importance of mutual trust and support; neighborhood relations (e.g. interactions with neighbors); rights and privacy; responsibility for one's work; respect for freedom; equality and justice; observance of rules of society; recognition of social unrest; R's own and familial death; friends; authority; scientific and technological progress; material ownership; society, homeland, and the nation; politics; and employment and labor.
Items related to life consciousness:
Feeling of anxiety; degree of satisfaction; view of future society; consciousness on life planning; awareness on savings; awareness on consumption; awareness on social security, etc.
Date of Release 1998/04/01
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Religion and values
Social behaviour and attitudes
Social conditions and indicators
Topics in SSJDA Society/Culture
Version 1 : 1998-04-01
Notes for Users Data Sets are written in Japanese.