OVER 60% IN JAPAN READ NO BOOKS EACH MONTH, A MAJORITY FOR THE FIRST TIME

TOKYO, Sept 18 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A record 62.6 per cent of respondents in Japan reported not reading a single book per month, making up the majority for the first time, according to a national language survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency released on Tuesday.

According to Kyodo News Agency, the all-time high figure from a survey asking people how many books they read per month, including e-books but excluding magazines and comics, marks a 15.3 percentage point increase from the last survey conducted in fiscal 2018.

But the poll also found that 75.3 per cent of those who do not read books regularly still obtain information from other sources, such as social media posts and online articles, "almost every day."

An agency official stressed the value of written content, whether in paper or electronic form, saying, "It is important to maintain or increase the chance to lay eyes on words by utilizing both."

The survey, conducted every five years since fiscal 2008, covered 6,000 individuals aged 16 or older, with valid responses from 3,559 between January and March 2024.

Of the respondents, 40.3 percent said they read e-books, up 15.1 points from the last survey. Among them, 48.4 percent read more e-books than conventional books, magazines or comics, a 13.9 point increase.

But a record 69.1 per cent said their amount of book reading has decreased, with 43.6 per cent citing 'information devices taking up time.' This response was more common among the younger generation.

Among the 5.5 per cent whose book reading has increased, 18.6 per cent attributed it to “easier access to e-books.”

-- BERNAMA-KYODO