Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Imperial Family, Job HuntingResults of 64th installment announced – More than 40% of respondents ‘Interested’ in imperial family, while more than 70% are concerned about job prospects

The 64th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out on May 17-18 to gauge young people’s views on two subjects: Japan’s imperial family and job hunting.

Against the backdrop of discussions on how to maintain stability in the imperial line of succession, 44% of the 1,000 respondents, aged 17 to 19, expressed either “Interest” or “Some interest” in the imperial family, and 47% replied that they “Feel affinity” toward the imperial family.

With regard to how they are exposed to imperial household-related information, more than 60% cited television information and variety shows showing members performing their official duties. When respondents who replied that they were not interested in the imperial family (the 56% who replied “No interest” or “Not much interest) were asked how interest in the imperial family could be increased, the top replies were for “Family members my age” and the “Emperor and Empress” to post on social media.

Regarding the Instagram account launched by the Imperial Household Agency in April, although still a very recent development, close to 70% of respondents replied that they were not aware of the account, and at the time of the survey less than 5% of respondents were aware of and following it.

On the subject of job hunting, the survey asked students planning to enter the workforce about “assignment gacha,” a term that refers to accepting a job without knowing where you will be assigned geographically or within the company (gacha is a kind of Japanese vending machine game where the player puts in coins and turns a lever to receive a random prize). More than 70% of those respondents replied that they were “Concerned” about assignment gacha. While close to 70% replied that if they were assigned to a position that was not aligned with their preferences, they would “Work hard in any case,” 20% replied that they would “Change jobs.” With regard to taishoku daiko (“resignation agent,” referring to companies that assist people who want to leave their job) services, which have recently been receiving much attention, close to 70% replied that the reason the number of people using their services is increasing is that “The problem is with the hiring company that assigns someone to an environment in which employees are forced to use taishoku daiko services.”

Highlights of the 64th Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds – Imperial Family, Job Hunting

Interest in the imperial family

• Interested – 44.3%
• Not interested – 55.7%

Concern regarding “assignment gacha”

• Concerned – 71.6%
• Not concerned – 28.4%

Reason for increased use of taishoku daiko services

• The problem is with the hiring company that assigns someone to an environment in which employees are forced to use taishoku daiko services – 67.0%
• The problem is with employees who use taishoku daiko services without speaking directly with the company – 27.5%
• Other replies – 5.5%

Survey Excerpts

About the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds

Revisions to Japan’s Civil Code lowering the age of adulthood to 18 for a range of activities, including voting, took effect in April 2022, making it even more important to understand and record the awareness of the 18-year-olds who represent Japan’s next generation. With this in mind, in October 2018 The Nippon Foundation launched the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds as an ongoing survey of young men and women across Japan aged around 18, to survey their values, attitudes toward politics and elections, understanding of social issues, and other current themes on an ongoing basis.

Notes:

1. From the 13th survey, the number of respondents, comprising men and women aged 17 to 19, has been increased to 1,000 from 800.
2. With the exception of the 20th, 46th, and 62nd installments, all surveys cover respondents in Japan only.