This survey was conducted by members of the National Museum
of Ethnology's project on "Cultural Change among Japanese," in
cooperation with JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization.
A questionnaire was used to survey Japanese 289 couples, with schoolaged
children, living in 22 cities overseas.
The main results of the survey were : First, that an overwhelming
majority of the representatives and their families kept company with
other Japanese in their daily life, regardless of where they lived;
second, most were concerned about the education of their children,
on returning to Japan; and third, almost all respondents recognized
that life in Japan was very convenient, whereas that abroad was inconvenient.
In cities where they lack what they considered to be basic
facilities, equipment, and decent accommodation they considered life
a hardship.
Other points noted by survey respondents, were that in all cities
they thought that the Japanese were more industrious in their outlook
than the local population; but on the other hand they considered
Japan to be inferior with respect to family ties, public morals, city
planning and other aspect of the "quality of life."
Most respondents living temporarily in cities in Europe and
United States of America expected that they should adapt themselves
to the local culture, whereas those in developing countries of Asia
and Africa replied that they should not do so.
In our opinion the results of the survey reflect the school- and
career-oriented society of Japan. And also most representatives of
Japanese firms abroad exhibited the deep-rooted Japanese tendency
of favoring Europe and the United States of America over Asian and
African nations.