Back to Contents of Issue: May 2004
|
|
|
|
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN reported that Yoneatsu Ozaki, an assistant professor at Tottori University, estimated that Japan's teens smoke 4.622 billion cigarettes a year. In monetary terms that came to JPY57.8 billion, of which JPY35.4 billion went to taxes. The above numbers are based on average prices for smokes and would, of course, be considerably higher if the teens indulged in those JPY250-per-pack premium brands. But alas, the survey did not probe their brand preferences.
going Westernization of home design, among other factors, this fine old custom has been on the decline for quite some time, and in its recent survey of 3,645 adults, the Asahi Shimbun's "Be Between" column noted that 61 percent of the householders said they had abandoned use of the kotatsu. The reason most frequently given: "Room is warm enough using the heater," with 603 replies.
PARKING LOTS ARE DANGEROUS! The Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced in February that one out of four violations of the criminal code occurring within their jurisdiction during 2003 took place in parking lots. Among the approximately 72,000 incidents were four murders and 24 rapes. A special group set up to deal with the problem is urging businesses and parking lot operators to improve lighting and install security cameras.
WHAT MADE YOU ORDER THAT PRODUCT on TV? "The price was right," said 71.6 percent of respondents to an Internet survey by Macromill. Others: "it's convenient and versatile" (60.5 percent), "it cleans well" (58.7), "seems to be a tasty local food" (58.5 percent) and "it must be good for your health" (58.1 percent).
@ |
Note: The function "email this page" is currently not supported for this page.