ALESS open data portal

Background

The databases below can be used to investigate a variety of issues and themes about modern Japan, such as family life, social institutions, education, population growth, economic development, urbanization, and work patterns. Many of these topics are studied by sociologists, who use a variety of techniques to understand human relationships and social institutions (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020).

Japan provides an interesting case study for social research due to its unique demographic trends (aging population, low birth rate), rapid post-war development, and ongoing social changes. Official Japanese government statistics offer comprehensive data across many social dimensions, making it possible to study long-term trends and regional variations within Japan.

References

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2020). What is Sociology? https://sociology.unc.edu/undergraduate-program/sociology-major/what-is-sociology/ Accessed April 6, 2020.

Data Sources

Japanese Government Statistics

1. e-Stat - Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan

https://www.e-stat.go.jp/en

Japan's official statistics portal with data from all government ministries
Covers 13 major fields including:
- Population and households
- Labor and wages
- Education, culture, sports
- Health and welfare
- Economic indicators
- Daily time use
Can search by topic, organization, or keyword
Data available at national, prefecture, and municipal levels
Free to use with proper citation and adherence to Terms of Use
Tip: The database is very large - focus on specific topics and use filters
How to use: Browse by theme → Select dataset → Filter by year/region → Download
Good for: Comprehensive official statistics about Japan

2. Statistics Bureau of Japan - Main Statistics

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/index.html

Central hub for key Japanese statistics with English versions
Key datasets include:
- Population Census
- Population Estimates (updated monthly)
- Labour Force Survey
- Family Income and Expenditure Survey
- Consumer Price Index
- Housing and Land Survey
- Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities
Data downloads in Excel and CSV formats
Good for: Major statistical surveys with English documentation

3. System of Social and Demographic Statistics (SSDS)

https://www.e-stat.go.jp/en/regional-statistics/ssdsview

Organized social data by prefecture and municipality
About 2,720 indicators for prefectures across 13 fields
Covers: population, labor, education, culture, health, welfare, housing, and more
Downloadable in Excel format
Good for: Comparing different regions of Japan

4. Statistical Handbook of Japan

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/

Annual comprehensive overview of Japan through statistics
Covers demographics, economy, society, and culture
PDF format with tables, figures, maps, and photographs
English language, very accessible
Updated annually (2024 edition available)
Good for: Getting an overview of Japan and understanding context

Specific Topic Areas

5. Population Estimates

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/tsuki/index.htm

Monthly population data by age group and sex
National and prefecture-level data
Historical data available
Good for: Population trends, aging society research

6. Labour Force Survey

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/roudou/index.html

Employment, unemployment, labor force participation
Data by age, sex, and industry
Monthly and annual data
Good for: Work patterns, employment trends

7. Family Income and Expenditure Survey

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/kakei/index.html

Household income, spending patterns, savings
Detailed expenditure categories
Monthly and annual data
Good for: Living standards, consumer behavior

8. Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities

https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/shakai/index.html

How Japanese people spend their time
Work, housework, leisure, sleep, and other activities
Data by demographic characteristics
Conducted every 5 years
Good for: Daily life patterns, work-life balance

International Comparisons

9. OECD Data - Japan

https://data.oecd.org/japan.htm

Allows comparison of Japan with other OECD countries
Education, employment, health, environment, economy
Interactive charts and downloadable data
Good for: Putting Japanese data in international context

10. Our World in Data - Japan

https://ourworldindata.org/country/japan

User-friendly interface for Japan data
Topics include demographics, economy, health, education
Easy to compare Japan with other countries
Good for: International comparisons with clear visualizations

Example research questions

To answer some of these questions, you might need to find other data to combine with Japanese statistics (e.g., economic indicators, infrastructure data, cultural surveys, policy information, international comparison data).

How has the population of Japan changed in the 21st century?

Is gender equality improving in the Japanese education system?

Does the environment/prefecture in which a person lives relate to how they use their free time?

What is the relationship between aging population and healthcare spending across Japanese prefectures?

How do work patterns differ between urban and rural prefectures in Japan?

Is there a relationship between education levels and economic development across different regions of Japan?

Tips for Using Japanese Statistics

Getting Started:

Start with Statistical Handbook of Japan to get an overview
Choose one specific topic (population, education, work, etc.)
Use e-Stat to find relevant datasets
Focus on a limited time period or specific prefectures
Use filters to make datasets manageable

Understanding the Data:

Prefecture (都道府県, todōfuken): Japan has 47 prefectures - useful for regional comparisons
Municipal levels: Shi (cities), Ku (wards), Machi/Chō (towns), Mura/Son (villages)
Age groups: Often divided as 0-14 (children), 15-64 (working age), 65+ (elderly)
Fiscal year: Japan's fiscal year runs April 1 to March 31
Data frequency: Some surveys are annual, others are every 5 years

Making Comparisons:

Compare prefectures of similar size or characteristics
Look at both urban (Tokyo, Osaka) and rural prefectures
Consider using per capita measures for fair comparisons
Account for regional variations in culture, economy, and geography
Look at trends over multiple years to see patterns

Combining Datasets: Japanese studies often require combining multiple datasets. For example:

Population aging + healthcare spending + number of hospitals
Education levels + average income + employment rates
Time use data + gender + prefecture characteristics
Migration patterns + economic development + urban/rural classification

For Your Analysis:

Focus on 5-10 prefectures rather than all 47
Use time series (data over multiple years) to show trends
Create maps to visualize regional patterns
Compare Tokyo/Osaka with smaller prefectures
Consider Japan's unique context (aging, urbanization, gender roles)

Citation: Always cite your data sources:

Example: "Statistics Bureau of Japan (2024). Population Estimates. Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/tsuki/index.htm (accessed October 5, 2025)"

Useful Additional Data Sources

When studying modern Japan, you might want to combine Japanese statistics with:

Economic data: GDP, industry data, trade (Cabinet Office, METI)
International comparisons: OECD, World Bank for context
Policy information: Ministry websites for understanding programs
Infrastructure: Transportation, hospitals, schools (various ministries)
Cultural data: Surveys on values, attitudes, lifestyles
Historical data: For long-term trend analysis

Questions? Need Help?

e-Stat is comprehensive but can be overwhelming - start with a clear topic
Statistical Handbook of Japan is the best starting point for overview
Many datasets are available in both Japanese and English
Focus on comparing prefectures or time periods rather than analyzing all data
Consider Japan's unique social context when interpreting results
Ask your professor if you need help navigating Japanese statistics

Page updated

Report abuse