Chapter 4 Social Independence
Section 1
1
Labor
Overview
(Unemployment)
 The unemployment rate of young people has been improving; however, it has been consistently
higher than that of all workers as a whole. (Figure 30)
Figure 30
Overall unemployment rate
(1) Unemployment rate
(2) Number of unemployed
(Ten thousand
persons)
(%)
14
Age 15-19
12
140
25-29
20-24
25-29
10
All
120
20-24
100
Age 15-19
8
80
6
60
37
4
40
2
30
20
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010 2013
(Year)
Source:
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
6
2013 (Year)
“Labour Force Survey,” MIC
(Non-regular employment)
 The non-regular employment rate of young people is lower than that of all workers; however, it
is gradually increasing (Figure 31).
Figure 31
Non-regular employment rate
(1) All
(2) Male
(%)
40
36.6
35
32.3
30
(3) Female
(%)
(%)
35
60
30
50
55.8
27.3
25
25
27.4
20
15
Age 15-24 (excluding students)
10
25-34
Age 15-24 (excluding students)
25-34
All
5
Source:
Note:
2005
2010
2013
(Year)
Age 15-24 (excluding students)
25-34
10
All
0
0
2002
30
20
10
0
2
16.4
15
All
5
41.4
37.1
40
21.2
20
2002
2005
2010
2013
2002
2005
2010
(Year)
2013
(Year)
“Labour Force Survey,” MIC
The non-regular employment rate here means the proportion of non-regular employees of all employees excluding executives.
Employment and separation
(Employment)
 The employment rate of junior high school graduates is 0.4%, that of high school graduates is
16.9%, and that of university graduates is 67.3% (Figure 32).
18
Figure 32
Employment rate
(1) By type of school
(2) By sex
(%)
(%)
100
90
90
80
80
70
73.5
67.3
60
58.0
50
40
40
30
30
20
16.9
10
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
Junior high school graduates
Technical college graduates
University graduates
Source:
Note 1:
2:
2000
2005
2010
20.2
13.6
10
0.4
0
62.3
60
50
20
73.4
70
0
2013 (Year)
1975
1980
High school graduates
Junior college graduates
1985
1990
1995
2000
High school graduates, male
University graduates, male
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
High school graduates, female
University graduates, female
“Basic School Survey,” MEXT
This is the percentage of students who have obtained employment of students who graduate in March each year.
Persons who have completed lower and upper secondary school are included among junior high school graduates and high school
graduates.
 4.9% of high school graduates and 13.6% of university graduates neither advance to higher
learning nor obtain employment (Figure 33, Figure 34).
Figure 33
Status of high school graduates (March 2013)
(1) Total
(2) Trend
(%)
(%)
Temporary employment
13,623 people
1.2%
Polytechnic
college, etc.
6,852 people
0.6%
Neither advance to higher
learning nor obtain
employment
53,951 people
4.9%
60
6
40
5
30
4.9
20
17.0
16.9
10
1.2
0
University, junior
college
581,144 people
53.2%
8
7
50
Unknown
291 people
0.0%
Employment
184,656 people
16.9%
Vocational school
(general)
66,494 people
6.1%
53.2
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
University, junior college
Specialized school
Employment
Temporary employment (rignt axis)
2012
4
3
2
1
0
2013 (Year)
Neither advance to higher learning nor obtain employment (rignt axis)
Vocational school
(specialized)
185,588 people
17.0%
Source:
Note:
“Basic School Survey,” MEXT
Persons who have completed upper secondary school are included among high school graduates.
19
Figure 34
Status of high school graduates (March 2013)
(1) Total
Neither advance to higher
learning nor obtain
employment
75,929people
13.6%
Temporary
employment
16,736people
3.0%
Employment
(non-regular
employee)
22,734people
4.1%
(2) Trend
(%)
(%)
Unknown
8,523people
1.5%
80
Graduate school
63,334people
11.3%
25
67.3
70
20
60
Vocational school,
overseas school
9,488people
1.7%
Intern
(medical)
8,984people
1.6%
50
13.6
15
13.0
10
40
30
20
5
10
3.0
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Employment
2010
2011
0
2013 (Year)
2012
Higher learning
(right axis
Neither advance to higher learning nor obtain employment (right axis)
Temporary employment (right axis)
Employment
(regular employee)
353,125people
63.2%
2009
(Separation from employment)
 As for the rate of job separation within three years of employment of new graduates, that of
junior high school graduates who graduated in March 2010 is 62.1%; that of high school
graduates is 39.2%; and that of university graduates is 31.0% (Figure 35).
Figure 35
Job separation rate for each period of employment for new graduates
(1) Junior high school graduates
(%)
3rd year
80
2nd year
2nd year
1st year
50
60
13.1
40
12.3
30
10
10
19.5 19.6 19.6
0
0
2000
2005
2010
2012 (Year)
10.0 10.1
15
20
41.3 44.5 43.0
10
8.5
20
11.3 11.2
30
Source:
Note 1:
2:
3rd year
2nd year
1st year
35
25
8.4
40
20
(%)
40
30
7.6
50
(3) University graduates
3rd year
1st year
70
12.5 13.4 13.0
5
0
2000
2005
2010
2012 (Year)
2000
2005
2010
2012 (Year)
“Survey on the Status of Employment and Separation of New Graduates,” MHLW
These figures are calculated based on records of people covered by unemployment insurance managed by MHLW.
People are classified by educational background using the date of the insured person’s most recently acquired qualification and their date
of birth.
Section 2
1
(2) High school graduates
(%)
60
Non-employed Young People, “Freeters” and Socially
Withdrawn People
Non-employed young people and “freeters”
(Non-employed young people)
 There are 600,000 non-employed young people aged 15 to 34, who account for 2.2% of the
population of people aged 15 to 34 (Figure 36).
20
Figure 36
Number of non-employed young people
(1) Trend
(2) Percentage of non-employed of the population
of people aged 15 to 34
(Ten thousand
persons)
(%)
2.5
90
80
70
20
2.2
2.0
60
50
18
1.5
17
1.0
40
30
20
15
0.5
10
9
0
1995
2000
35-39
Source:
Note 1:
2:
2005
30-34
25-29
2010
20-24
2013 (Year)
Age 15-19
0.0
1995
2000
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
“Labour Force Survey,” MIC
Non-employed young people here mean those of the population of people aged 15 to 34 who are not in the labor force who are neither
homemakers nor attend school. The graph includes the figures for people aged 35 to 39 for reference.
The figures for 2013 exclude those for Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
(“Freeters”)
 There are 1,820,000 freeters aged 15 to 34, who account for 6.8% of the population of people
aged 15 to 34 (Figure 37).
Figure 37
Number of freeters (part-time workers and those who want part-time jobs)
(1) Trend
(2) Percentage of freeters out of the population in
each age range
(%)
(Ten thousand
persons)
8.5
250
25 to 34
208
217 214
201 187
181
200
150
91
Age 15 to 24
98
99
97
182 184 180
182
171 177
15 to 24
25 to 34
7.5
7.0
7.0
6.8
6.5
92
92
88
92
98
98 103 102
6.5
6.0
5.5
100
50
Age 15 to 34
8.0
117 119 115 104
95
5.0
89
83
85
84
86
77
80
4.5
4.0
0
2002
Source:
Note:
2005
2010
2013(Year)
2002
2005
2010
2013
(Year)
“Labour Force Survey,” MIC
“Freeters” here mean graduates (men or unmarried women) who fall under one of the following three categories: 1) employees who are
classified as “part-time workers” at their workplace, 2) unemployed people who are looking for a part-time job, or 3) those who have not
been offered employment and want to have a part-time job (among “others” who are not in the labor force and neither are homemakers nor
attend school).
21
2
Socially withdrawn people
(“hikikomori”)
 There are estimated to be 696,000 people
who are socially withdrawn in a broad
sense, including “those who usually stay at
home and go out only when they have
something to do which is related to their
interests” (Figure 38).
Figure 38
Definitions of groups of socially
withdrawn people and their estimated
numbers
Each percentage
of valid responses
(%)
Estimated number
across the country
(Thousands)
Those who usually stay at home and only go to a
nearby convenience store
0.40
153.0
Those who go out of their rooms but not out of their
houses
0.09
35.0
Those who rarely go out of their rooms
0.12
47.0
Those who usually stay at home and go out only
when they have something to do which is related to
their interests
1.19
Socially
withdrawn
people, in a
narrow sense
236 thousand
(Note 4)
Quasi-withdrawn people
460 thousand
Socially withdrawn
Total
1.79
people, in a broad sense
696 thousand
Source:
Note 1:
2:
3:
4:
22
“Survey on the Attitudes of Young People” (fact-finding
survey on socially withdrawn people), Cabinet Office
The survey was conducted on 5,000 people aged 15 to 39, and
3,287 people (65.7%) gave an answer.
The figures are only for those who have been in the above
categories for six months or more. They exclude those who
gave schizophrenia or a physical illness as “the cause of their
present condition,” those who answered, “I work at home,”
and those who answered, “I do housework or look after my
child” to the question, “What do you often do when you are at
home?”
The estimated number across the country is each percentage of
valid responses multiplied by 38,800,000 (the population of
people aged 15 to 39 in MIC’s "Population Estimates"
[2009]).
The number of socially withdrawn people in a narrow sense,
236,000, almost agrees with the estimated number of
households, 255,000, provided in MHLW’s “Guidelines for
Evaluation and Support for Socially Withdrawn People.”
Section 3
1
Career Education
Workplace experience and internships
 The percentage of junior high schools that offer students workplace experience and high schools
that offer students internship opportunities is generally on the increase (Figure 39, Figure 40,
Figure 41).
Figure 39 Workplace
experience
provided by
junior high
schools
Figure 40 Internships
provided by high
schools
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
98.0
(%)
90
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
80
78.9
60
50
40.5
40
30
23.2
20
15.8
10
0
2005
2006
2007
National
Source:
2008
2009
Public
2010
2011
2012 (FY)
Private
“Survey on Work Experience and
Internships Provided by Schools,”
National Institute for Educational
Policy Research
Section 4
1
(%)
70
59.2
Figure 41 Internships
provided by high
schools
2005
2006
2007
National
2008
2009
Public
2010
2011
2012 (FY)
Private
Sources: “Survey on Work Experience and
Internships Provided by Schools,”
National Institute for Educational
Policy Research and materials
provided by MEXT
Note:
“The number of students who have
participated” means the number of
students in the third year who have
participated at least once during
their three years at school.
100.0
70.5
46.4
2005
2006
University/graduate school
Technical college
2007
2011 (FY)
Community college
Sources: “Survey on Internships Provided
by Universities, etc.,” MEXT
Note 1: Internships provided by
universities take the form of
courses that are taken for credit.
2: Courses that are provided for the
acquisition of qualifications (such
as student teaching, medical
training, and nursing training) are
excluded.
International Exchange
Students studying abroad and children who have returned from overseas
 The number of students studying abroad has continued to decline. Destinations for studying
abroad have diversified (Figure 42).
23
Figure 42
Japanese students studying abroad
(1) Number of students studying
abroad
(2) Major destinations
2000 (76,465 people)
(Ten thousand persons)
9
New Zealand
0.9%
France
1.9%
Canada
1.9% Germany
2.7%
Australia
2.9%
8
7
6
5
4
UK
8.1%
3
2
2011 (57,501 people)
South Korea
0.8% Other
2.0%
South Korea
2.1%
US
60.8%
China
18.1%
US
34.7%
Australia
3.7%
UK
6.4%
0
1985
Source:
Note:
1990
1995
2000
2005
Other
5.6%
Canada
3.2%
Germany
3.2%
Taiwan
5.0%
1
2
New Zealand
1.8%
France
2.9%
China
31.2%
2010 (Year)
“Circumstances of Japanese Students Studying Abroad,” MEXT
The results were compiled by MEXT based on the following materials.
OECD "Education at a Glance"
Students who are enrolled in a regular course at an institution of higher education and “do not settle down or live permanently in the
host country” or “do not have the citizenship of the host country”
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Students who are enrolled at an institution of higher education and “do not settle down or live permanently in the host country”
Institute of International Education (IIE) "Open Doors”
Students who are enrolled at an institution of higher education in the U.S. and do not have American citizenship (including permanent
residents).
Education Office of the Chinese Embassy
Students who are enrolled at a Chinese university with a student visa (X visa (stay of 180 days or more to study)) or a visitor visa (stay
of less than 180 days)
Ministry of Education of Taiwan
Students who are enrolled at an institution of higher education in Taiwan (including students studying for a short time)
Number of international students and
foreign children
Figure 43 International students
(Ten thousand persons)
16
 The number of international students has
remained unchanged for the past few
years (Figure 43).
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
Sources: “International Students in Japan,” Japan Student Services
Organization and “Overview on Foreign Students in
Japan,” MEXT
Note:
“International students” are foreign students who receive
education at a university (including graduate school), a
junior college, a technical college, a vocational college
(special course) or an educational facility for a preparatory
course to enter a university in Japan. They must have the
proper status of residence to study in Japan (study visa)
provided for in the Appended Table 1 of the Immigration
Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
24
Chapter 5 Safety and Problematic Behavior
Section 1
1
Accidents and disasters
Unforeseen accidents and traffic accidents
 The number of deaths caused by unforeseen accidents peaked in 1989 and then declined. The
number of casualties caused by traffic accidents has been on the decrease (Figure 44, Figure 45).
Figure 44
Number of deaths caused by
unforeseen accidents (under
age 30)
(Thousands)
Figure 45
Number of casualties caused
by traffic accidents
(Ten thousand persons)
8
60
7
50
6
5
40
4
30
3
20
2
1
10
0
1989
1995
2000
Other
Source:
2005
2010 2012 (Year)
Traffic accidents
“Vital Statistics,” MHLW
Section 2
0
2001
2005
Age 15 or under
Source:
2010
16-19
20-24
2013 (Year)
25-29
“Circumstances of Traffic Accidents,” the National Police
Agency
Harm Caused by Crimes and Abuse
1 Criminal harm
(Circumstances of criminal offenses
in which the victims were under the
age of 20)
 The number of criminal offenses known
to the police in which the victims were
under the age of 20 has decreased in
recent years (Figure 46).
Figure 46
(Ten thousand persons)
Number of criminal
offenses known to the
police in which the main
victims were under the age
of 20
Unemployed
Employed
Other students
University students
40
High school students
Junior high school students
35
Elementary school students
Preschoolers, toddlers and infants
45
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2002
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
Sources: “Overview of the State of Juvenile Guidance and
Protection” and “State of Juvenile Delinquency,”
National Police Agency
25
(Criminal harm that endangers the welfare of people under the age of 20)
 The number of victims under the age of 20 of child welfare-related crimes has remained largely
unchanged. The number of victims of child pornography crimes is 1,244 (including the victims
of cases that were found to be crimes by determination of the age of the victims). Over 40
percent of them are elementary school children or younger children (Figure 47).
Figure 47
Victims under the age of 20 of child welfare-related crimes
(1) Overall child welfare-related crimes
(Thousands)
Unemployed
8
(2) Child pornography crimes
(People)
Unemployed
700
7
Employed
6
Other students
Employed
600
Other students
500
5
High school
students
400
3
Junior high
school students
300
2
Elementary
school students
200
1
Preschoolers
100
4
0
High school
students
Junior high
school students
Elementary
school students
Preschoolers
0
2002
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
2002
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
Sources: “Overview of the State of Juvenile Guidance and Protection” and “Circumstances of Arrests for Child Abuse and Welfare-related Crimes,”
National Police Agency
Note:
For child pornography crimes, the number of newly identified victims is calculated each year. Other than this, in some cases, the
determination of age is conducted based on a picture of an unidentified child victim to build a criminal case.
 The number of victims under the age of
18 of crime linked to online dating sites
greatly decreased. On the other hand,
the number of victims under the age of
18 of crime linked to community sites
including SNS and services that allow
users to share their profiles on mobile
websites began to increase (Figure 48).
Figure 48 Victims under the age of 18 of
crime linked to online dating sites
(People)
1,400
1,293
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
159
200
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (Year)
Online dating site
Source:
26
Community site
“Circumstances of and Measures against Crimes Linked
to Online Dating Sites,” National Police Agency
2
Circumstances of child abuse
(Number of cases of counseling provided by child counseling centers)
 The number of cases of counseling on child abuse has been increasing year after year Counseling
on physical abuse accounts for the highest percentage, followed by neglect and then
psychological abuse. More than 40% of abused children are preschool children (Figure 49).
Figure 49
Number of cases of counseling on child abuse provided by child counseling
centers
(1) Trend
(2) Percentage of each type of counseling case
(%)
(Ten thousands)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1995
1990
2000
2005
2010 2012 (FY)
3.2
3.1
3.1
2.5
2.4
2.2
18.8
21.3
23.3
26.7
29.5
33.6
37.3
34.3
32.5
31.5
28.9
36.6
35.4
2011
2012 (FY)
38.0
40.1
38.3
39.3
38.2
2007
2008
2009
2010
Physical abuse
Psychological abuse
Neglect
Sexual abuse
(3) Percentage of each age range of abused children
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
5.2
14.5
6.2
14.7
5.7
14.7
6.5
13.3
7.0
13.6
14.1
38.1
37.1
37.6
36.5
36.2
35.2
23.9
23.9
23.7
24.2
24.0
24.7
18.3
18.1
18.3
19.6
19.2
18.7
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012 (FY)
Age 0 - 2
Elementary school students
High school students
Source:
Note:
7.2
Age 3 - preschool age
Junior high school students
“Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services,” MHLW
The figures for FY 2010 exclude those for Fukushima because of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
27
(Number of arrests for child abuse)
 The number of child abuse cases in which the police make arrests has been on the increase
(Figure 50).
Figure 50
Number of child abuse cases in which the police made arrests
(1) Number of child victims
(2) Percentage of each type of abuse
(People)
(People)
475
500
450
70
60
400
350
50
300
40
(%)
100
5.4
3.2
4.4
25.9
26.3
68.7
2008
4.5
2.1
18.6
24.4
23.7
21.9
70.5
76.9
70.9
72.9
70.7
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 (Year)
90
80
3.4
70
60
50
250
200
30
40
150
20
30
25
20
100
10
50
0
2002
2010
2005
All
0
2013 (Year)
Children killed (right axis)
10
0
Physical abuse
Neglect
Sexual abuse
Psychological abuse
(3) Percentage of each age
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
12.0
12.0
59.2
32.0
20.2
44.0
12.0
8.6
All
Age 1 or under
Children killed
(right axis)
1-4
5-9
Age 10 and above
Sources: “Overview of Giving Guidance to Minors and Taking Minors into Protective Custody” and “Status of Arrests due to Child Abuse and
Child Pornography related Crimes,” National Police Agency
Note:
The figures above do not include cases of murder-suicide or murder and abandonment immediately after childbirth.
28
3
Circumstances of children housed in children’s homes, etc.
(Number of children housed in facilities or foster homes)
 The numbers of children in infant homes and children’s homes are on the decline whereas the
numbers of children in self-reliance support facilities and foster homes are increasing (Figure
51).
Figure 51
Number of children housed in children’s homes, etc.
(1) Infant homes
(2) Children’s homes
(People)
(%)
(People)
(%)
3,500
90
32,000
94
92
85
30,000
3,069
28,831
90
88
3,000
80
86
28,000
84
75
82
2,500
1999
2005
Residence rate (right axis)
70
2013 (Year)
2010
26,000
1999
Residence rate (right axis)
number of residents
(3) Self-reliance support facilities
(People)
2005
2010
80
2013(Year)
number of residents
(4) Foster homes, family homes
(People)
500
430
450
400
6,000
5,407
5,000
350
4,000
300
250
3,000
200
2,000
150
100
1,000
50
0
0
2003
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
1999
2005
2010 2012 (Year)
Sources: “Report on Survey of Social Welfare Institutions” and “Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services,” MHLW
Note 1: The residence rate is the number of child residents divided by the capacity of those facilities. Since 2006, the total capacity has excluded
the capacity of facilities where the number of residents is unknown.
2:
The source of the figures for infant homes and children’s homes was the “Report on Survey of Social Welfare Institutions” until 2009; the
source of the figures has been a survey conducted by MHLW since 2010. The source of the figures for foster homes and family homes is
the “Report on Social Welfare Administration and Services.” (Note that the figures for 2010 were surveyed by MHLW.)
29
Section 3
1
Delinquency and Problematic Behavior
Criminal minors (aged 14 to 19), juvenile offenders (under 14) and juvenile
pre-delinquents
 The numbers of criminal minors and juvenile offenders (for violation of a criminal law) who
were arrested or given guidance are on the decline (Figure 52).
 The number of juveniles who were arrested for initial-type delinquency (including shoplifting,
stealing a bike, stealing a motorbike and theft of lost or mislaid property) has decreased in the
past 10 years (Figure 53).
Figure 52
Figure 53
Criminal minors, etc. who were arrested or
given guidance
(1) Criminal minors
(Thousands)
Juveniles arrested
25
Proportion of population (right axis)
Number of
juveniles who
were arrested
for initial-type
delinquency
(2) Juvenile offenders (criminal law)
(Proportion of
population)
20
20
(Thousands)
(Proportion of (Thousands)
population)
Juveniles given guidance
6
（％）
10.0 12
80
Proportion of population (right axis)
5
10
4
8
70
15
63.8
10
10
3
5.0
6
40
0
0
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2013 (Year)
30
2
4
Arrested juveniles
1
2
Proportion relative to the total number
of criminal minors (right axis)
5
5
0
0.0
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2013 (Year)
60
50
15
20
10
0
2002
2005
0
2013 (Year)
2010
Sources: “Overview of the State of Juvenile Guidance and Protection” and “State of Juvenile Delinquency,” National Police Agency
Note:
The proportion of population is the number of persons who were arrested or given guidance per 1,000 population within their age range
(For juvenile offenders, the proportion is calculated based on the number of those aged 10 to 13.)
2
Problematic behavior
(Drug abuse)
 The number of people under the age of
30 who were arrested in stimulant drug
cases or cannabis cases is on the
decline (Figure 54).
Figure 54 People under the age of 30
who were arrested for drug
abuse
(People)
3,000
(Delinquency)
 Most of the juveniles given guidance by
the police were given guidance for
late-night loitering and smoking. The
percentage of cases of late-night
loitering has increased in recent years
(Figure 55).
2,500
2,000
1,654
1,500
1,000
696
500
(Domestic violence)
 The number of domestic violence cases
recognized by the police has sharply
increased in the past few years. The
percentage of cases involving culprits
who are junior high school children
students has risen (Figure 56).
30
0
2009
2010
2011
Stimulant drug
Source:
2012
2013 (Year)
cannabis
“Drugs and Firearms,” National Police Agency
Figure 55 Juvenile delinquents given
guidance by the police
(Ten thousand persons)
Figure 56 Number of domestic violence
cases recognized by the police
(Proportion of population)
160
200
140
180
160
120
140
100
120
80
100
60
80
60
40
40
20
20
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
Juveniles given guidance
1995
2000
2005
2010
0
2013 (Year)
(Cases)
1,700
1,625
1,600
1,500
1,400
1,300
1,200
1,100
1,000
2002
Proportion of population (right axis)
Source:
2005
2010
2012 (Year)
“Overview of the State of Juvenile Guidance and Protection,”
National Police Agency
Chapter 6 Life Activities and Attitudes
Section 1
1
Accidents and disasters
Life Activities
(Wake-up time and bedtime)
 Children get up and go to bed earlier than five years ago (Figure 57).
Figure 57
Wake-up time and bedtime
(1) Average wake-up time (weekdays)
Age 10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
Elementary
school students
(age 10 and
above)
Junior high
school students
High school
students
Other students
Source:
2006
6:44
7:01
7:53
7:20
2011
6:38
6:54
7:56
7:17
6:44
6:38
6:45
6:41
6:43
6:36
7:59
7:55
(2) Average bedtime (weekdays)
Age 10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
Elementary
school students
(age 10 and
above)
Junior high
school students
High school
students
Other students
2006
22:30
23:58
0:31
0:05
2011
22:24
23:48
0:31
0:07
22:02
21:57
23:04
22:55
23:50
23:42
0:47
0:37
“Basic Survey on Social Life,” MIC
(Time for sleep and meals, time for work and housework, and free time)
 The time for sleep and meals has increased. Teenagers have less free time (Figure 58).
31
Figures 58
Primary activities, secondary activities, tertiary activities
(1) Sleep and meals (primary
activities)
(2) Work, housework and
schoolwork (secondary
activities)
(Minutes)
(3) Each person’s free time (tertiary
activities)
(Minutes)
440
(Minutes)
550
680
420
660
500
400
640
450
380
620
600
400
580
350
360
340
320
560
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011 (Year)
300
300
1986
1991
Age 10-14
Source:
Note:
2
1996
15-19
2001
2006
1986
2011 (Year)
20-24
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011 (Year)
25-29
“Basic Survey on Social Life,” MIC
Primary activities mean physiologically necessary activities such as sleep and meals. Secondary activities mean obligatory activities in
one’s social life such as work, housework and schoolwork. Tertiary activities mean activities done during one’s free time.
Behavior
(Relations with parents)
 The highest percentages of children have conversations with their fathers for “4 hours or less”
and with their mothers for “10 to19 hours” a week (Figure 59).
Figure 59
Time for conversations between parents and their children per week (2009)
(1) Father
Over 70
hours
50-59 60-69 0.1%
0.7% 0.3%
(2) Mother
Unknown
4.3%
40-49
2.7%
30-39
5.4%
20-29
15.6%
10-19
20.5%
Source:
4 hours or
less
31.8%
Over 70
hours
7.1%
60-69
3.4%
50-59
6.3%
Unknown
3.1%
40-49
8.2%
30-39
10.1%
5-9
18.7%
4 hours or
less
11.7%
20-29
16.5%
5-9
13.5%
10-19
20.2%
20.1%
“Nationwide Survey on Families and Children,” MHLW
(Use of cell phones and the Internet)
 More than 90% of high school students have a cell phone. About 80% of them have a
smartphone (Figure 60).
32
Figure 60
Usage patterns of cell phones (including PHS and smartphones)
(1) Ownership
(2) Types of cell phones
(%)
(%)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
97.2
51.9
36.6
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013 (FY)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Elementary school students in 4th grade and 6th grade
Junior high school students
High school students
82.8
47.4
2010
2011
2012
2013
(FY)
Elementary school students from 4th to 6th grade who have a smartphone
Elementary school students from 4th to 6th grade who have a smartphone Elementary school students from 4th to 6th grade who have a
cell phone with limited functions or for children
Junior high school students who have a smartphone
Junior high school students who have a smartphone Junior high school students who have a cell phone with limited functions or for
children
High school students who have a smartphone
High school students who have a smartphone High school students who have a cell phone with limited functions or for children
Source:
Note 1:
2:
“Fact-finding Survey on Internet Use Environment of Young People,” Cabinet Office
(1) Ownership is calculated based on the total of those with personal cell phones and those with cell phones shared with family.
In (2), smartphones with limited functions and smartphones for children are not included, because the percentage of students who have
them is quite low.
Section 2
1
Attitudes
Feelings of happiness, anxiety and
worries
(Feelings of happiness)
 The percentage of students in
elementary school, junior high
school and high school who feel they
are happy has increased (Figure 61).
(Anxiety and worries)
 The percentage of elementary school
students, junior high school students
and high school students who have
anxiety and worries has increased.
Their anxiety and worries are
mainly about their studies and future
(Figure 62).
Figure 61
Feelings of happiness (percentage
of students who feel they are
happy)
(%)
83.4
85
80
77.4
77.3
75
70.7 71.5
70.7
70
65
60
Elementary school
students in 5th grade
and 6th grade
2004
Source:
Note 1:
2:
Junior high school
students
High school students
2009
“Nationwide Survey on Families and Children,” MHLW
“High school students” means the total sum of students in high
schools, vocational training schools, vocational schools and
miscellaneous schools.
The “students who feel they are happy” refers to the total sum of
students who answered “I am very happy” or “I am sort of happy”
to the question “Do you feel you are happy now?”
33
Figure 62
Anxiety and worries
(1) Percentage of the children who have anxiety and
worries
(%)
(%)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
71.6
73.0
70.8
80
70
60
55.4
50
40
30
20
10
2004
2
84.9
81.2
Junior high
Elementary
school students in school students
5th grade and 6th
grade
Source:
Note:
(2) What they have anxiety and worries about
(2009, multiple answers allowed)
High school
students
0
Health
Face and Studies and Personality Bullying
figure
future
and habits
Friends
Sexual
Boyfriend Family School life
problems or girlfriend problems
Other
Elementary school students in 5th grade and 6th grade
Junior high school students
High school students
2009
“Nationwide Survey on Families and Children,” MHLW
“High school students” means the total sum of students in high schools, vocational training schools, vocational schools and miscellaneous
schools.
Intention to marry, life course
(Intention to marry)
 Around 90 percent of unmarried people have had the intention to marry throughout the period
surveyed (Figure 63).
Figure 63
Percentage of those who have the intention to marry
(1) Junior high school students
and high school students
(2) People aged 18 or over (male)
(%)
70
(%)
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
60
65.5 63.8
57.7 57.2
50
40
30
20
10
0
Male
Female
2004
2009
(3) People aged 18 or over (female)
(%)
100
88.2
88.0
95
91.4
90
89.4
89.3
85
84.1
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
1987 1992 1997 2002 2005 2010 (Year)
Age 18-19
1987
20-24
1992
1997
2002
2005
2010 (Year)
25-29
Sources: “Nationwide Survey on Families and Children,” MHLW and “National Fertility Survey” (Survey of Unmarried People), National Institute
of Population and Social Security Research
Note 1: The figures in the graph (1) are the percentages of students in junior high school, high school, vocational training school, vocational school
and miscellaneous schools who chose: “I want to get married” from among the choices: “I want to get married,” “I do not want to get
married,” and “I have no idea yet.”
2:
The figures in graphs (2) and (3) are the percentage of those who chose: “I will get married someday” from among these choices: “I will
get married someday,” “I will never get married,” and “I have no idea.”
34