Q&As
Why do you continue to carry out the same survey?
What did we learned from the Survey results?
What are the numbers with a '#' beside them?
They are indices for the different items used in the questionnaire. In all of the Surveys on the Japanese National Character and related researches, we index the questionnaire items by a number followed by "#".
What do K-type and M-type mean?
Since the 5th installment conducted in 1973, we have used two different types of questionnaires: the K-type and M-type. We distinguish between these two types in order to lessen the time burden (in terms of interview time) on respondents.
While both types include repeat questions meant to capture the longitudinal trends as well as new items, the K-type includes a comparatively greater proportion of the former.
What is the difference between 'Other' and 'DK'?
'Other' means that a respondent has provided an answer that was not part of the response categories presented; 'DK' stands for 'Don't Know'. For your information, here is an excerpt from the instruction sheet we provided to our interviewers.
"In case the respondent does not understand a question, repeat it. Mark the response as DK if he or she still does not appear to grasp it. In formulating the questions, we have tried to use language easy enough for all adults to comprehend clearly. On the other hand, for some it is possible that a few items go beyond that range of understanding. In survey research meant to collect statistical data, the proportion of people who have responded with a "DK" to a question using words that are asked of everyone constitutes important information, so please do not try to rephrase on your own."
I see that questions and the response categories may use different expressions even though they share the same # index number.
This is because different expressions may have been adopted on the questionnaires for different installments even if they are meant to conceptually represent the same question. In showing the "Results by Different Installments," we try to present whenever possible the exact wording as used in the questions and the response categories in a given questionnaire. On the other hand, in showing the "Results by Time-series," we try to use a uniform format for the questions and response categories without regard to the differences by installments.
Okurigana (kana added after a Chinese character) is not correct.
This is because the expressions used at the time when the questions were first asked remain the same. The survey results may be largely affected by even the smallest change in expressions. We continue to use the same wording, even if it is antiquated, so that we may make comparisons of time-series in the Survey of Japanese National Character.
Why is it that the percentages do not add up to 100?
The individual percentage numbers in the tables have been rounded up or down prior to their being summed, so they may not necessarily add up exactly to 100.
Further, the percentages shown are those for the individual response items considered separately for questions for which multiple answers are possible. They are quite obviously not meant to add up to 100.
Some question items appear as gray and cannot be selected from the pull-down menu.
In showing the "Results by Different Installments", we have designed the site such that only links to the question items actually used in a given installment may be selected. In the 'Results by Time-series' section, you should be able to select all the question items.
Why are the width of the graphs different?
The width of the graphs are proportionate to the square root of the number of respondents.
Some fonts on the graphs are unreadable because they are overlaid on top of one another.
Use the pull-down menu on the upper right hand corner of the graph to select an individual response category.
It's hard to find what I'm looking for.
We are sorry to hear that you are having difficulty navigating the site. We would appreciate any suggestions you can offer to help improve the site.
Are there restrictions as to how I might make use of the available results?
Please read the terms of use.
I would like to cite the values shown in your tabulated results.
Among the tabulations presented on this site, the simple tabulations have already been published in the following study report. Please follow the format used in this publication in citing the results.

Nakamura, T., Yoshino, R., Maeda, T., Inagaki, Y. & Shibai, K. 2017 A study of the Japanese national character: The thirteenth nationwide survey (2013) -English Edition-, ISM Survey Research Report No.119.
When will the next survey be conducted?
At this point, we will be carrying out the Fourteenth Nationwide Survey in the autumn of 2018.
What do playing cards have to do with the Survey?
Playing cards have nothing to do with this Survey; however, a position of the results of the 13th installment of the Survey on the Japanese National Character have been printed and distributed on playing cards. If you are interested in them, please send an e-mail to the contact address.
I have a question that has not been answered on the Q&As.
For any other questions, please send an e-mail to the contact address.