Hosei Graduate School Releases Prefectural Rankings on Well-being

Professor Koji Sakamoto of the Hosei Graduate School of Regional Policy Design and 10 working professional students studying well-being indices released on November 9, 2011, the results of their research on well-being in each of Japan's 47 prefectures.

The group evaluated and analyzed each prefecture's well-being level based on 40 indices categorized into four themes--life and family, labor and company, safety and security, and health and medical services--which were used to extract and process various socioeconomic statistical data. Aiming to "clarify the problems each prefecture faces and thus provide guidance on measures for developing local communities with an enhanced sense of well-being," their research is the first in Japan to analyze all 47 prefectures from the viewpoint of well-being, instead of an economic indicator such as gross domestic product (GDP).

According to the research results, Fukui Prefecture scored the highest overall (7.23 points). With its environment for raising children, adequate welfare programs, and low rates of crime, fire, and accidents, Fukui ranked first in the area of safety and security and third in life and family. Including Fukui, the top three prefectures are all located in the Hokuriku area: Toyama Prefecture ranked second (7.20 points) and Ishikawa Prefecture third (6.90 points).

Meanwhile, metropolitan areas were among the lowest-ranked: Tokyo was 38th (5.38 points), Fukuoka 39th (5.28 points), Saitama 44th (5.08 points), Hyogo 45th (5.03 points) and Osaka 47th (4.75 points), suggesting that larger economies and populations do not necessarily lead to greater well-being.

(From Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy and Society)

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