Investigation for Resolution
Questionnaire of Awareness
Our questionnaire has two primary purposes. The first is to know how the awareness of water problems in Japan is. The Second is to know whether there is a difference in awareness when comparing Japan and overseas. We sent out the questionnaire over the web to ①Japanese students ②Students in Italy (Students we got accessed through our member who studied abroad and received overseas training).
Have you ever taken a class or lecture on water or samething related to water?
In the questionnaire, we asked Japanese students whether they have ever taken a class or lecture on water or something related to water, 56 out of 125 Japanese students, which is about 45% answered “No”.
It means that almost half of them have not taken a class or lecture on water or something related to water, or do not remember taking it even if they have taken it.
On the other hand, 24 out of 66 foreign students, 36% of them, answered “ No”. Although the percentage of foreign students answered “No” is smaller compared with that of Japanese students, the number is near a-third.
Many of the people who answered “Yes” said that they had taken a class about water pollution, water scarcity and river or marine conservation and so on.
Though classes and lectures are given to some extent, it is a problem that almost half of them have not taken a class or lecture on water or something related to water or do not remember taking it even if they have taken it, considering the importance of water problems on average.
The result of this questionnaire made us wonder how many people can think water problems as their own problems independently.
Have you ever heard a word "virtual water"?
When we asked Japanese students whether they have ever heard a word “virtual water”, only 15% answered “Yes, and I know the meaning”, 14% answered “Yes, but I do not the meaning and the other 71% answered “No”.
In other words, more than 70% have not heard “virtual water” and the percentage of people who know its meaning is only 15%.
Meanwhile, in the questionnaire foreign students, the percentage of people who have not heard it is lower than that in Japan. But it cannot be said that “virtual water” is widely known abroad.
From this result, we found that “virtual water” is little-known both in Japan and in the world.
Have you ever heard a word "SDGs"?
When we also asked Japanese students whether they have ever heard a word “SDGs”, about half answered “Yes, and I know the meaning”, 7% answered “Yes, but I do not the meaning and 45% answered “No”, while 70 out of 95 foreign students answered “No”.
Although the percentage of Japanese who have not heard a word “SDGs” is low compared with that of foreigner, “SDGs” is also little-known both in Japan and the world.
Taken it, “SDGs” and “virtual water” are still little-known, both in Japan and in the world.
Then, we think that with more places where people learn about social problems and efforts, we will able to understand social problems including water problems.
