Society Survey finds most Japanese favour “lonely freedom” over “troublesome ties”
thomas Unswerving cyclist Admin Joined 14 Mar 2002 Messages 20,158 Reaction score 17,688 A recent online survey by the Consumer Co-operative Institute of Japan suggests that many working-age people in Japan place a high value on the freedom of being on their own, even when that choice brings a sense of loneliness. With subscription services such as Netflix offering unlimited viewing and generative artificial intelligence increasingly used for advice or companionship, spending time alone has become easier and more accessible than ever. A wide range of tools now allows people to pass the time on their own with little effort. At the same time, specialists warn that these conditions may deepen the problem of isolation, which goes beyond loneliness and involves a weakening or loss of meaningful ties with others. The survey aimed to gauge the state of human connections. Approximately 11,000 men and women aged 25 to 54 were asked to choose between two scenarios: "A society where human relationships are close-knit, even if troublesome" and "A society that respects individual freedom, even if people are lonely." The results showed that a consistent 66% across genders and age groups leaned toward the latter, valuing personal freedom over social connections, significantly more than the 34% who preferred the former. Interestingly, people facing economic hardship tended to favour "freedom despite loneliness": 74% of respondents who described their finances as "very difficult" chose freedom, compared to 53% of those who felt "very comfortable" financially. The survey further revealed that individuals who prioritised freedom were more likely to report feelings of loneliness. Click to expand... Over 60% of Japan's adults prefer 'lonely freedom' over 'troublesome connections': survey - The Mainichi TOKYO -- A survey has revealed a tendency in Japan among working-age people to value the freedom of being alone, even if it comes with feelings of lon mainichi.jpBOT