Australia
USA
Latest News
Monday, 12th August 2013
In General Japan News,
More than 70 per cent of Japanese adults satisfied with their lives
These days life can be pretty tough, although things are looking up in Japan where more than 70 per cent of the population claim to be pleased with their quality of life.
This is according to a survey of 10,000 Japanese nationals over the age of 20 conducted by the Cabinet office over 17 days in June this year, which revealed that a total of 71 per cent are now either totally or somewhat satisfied with their lifestyle.
This represents a 3.7 per cent increase on last year, and is the first time the figure has breached the 70 per cent mark in eight years, which is great news for the population following a sustained period of economic woe and natural disasters.
According to News on Japan, much of this renewed optimised is being attributed to the success of the government's economic policies over the past 12 months, with Abenomics - so-called in honour of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took office last December - having helped the country turn a corner and get itself back on the road to financial prosperity.
However, these findings will no doubt have been soured by the revelation today (August 12th) that the Japanese economy expanded at a slower pace than had been expected during the second quarter of 2013.
Gross domestic product grew by 0.6 per cent in the three months to June, representing an annualised increase of 2.6 per cent.
While this may sound positive, it has in fact been met with groans from the nation's economists, who had predicted a year-on-year growth of 3.6 per cent after seeing a 4.1 per cent jump in the first quarter of this year.
On the plus side, this is the third successive quarter in which Japan's economy has grown, indicating that the country is back on the right track, although the main disappointment is that business investments in the nation were shown to have declined over the period.
Inside Japan UK office
Inside Japan US office
Inside Japan Australia office
Inside Japan - Japan office
