Japanese Users Research Articles

Improving social anxiety in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual individuals through avatar customization and communication

AbstractDiscrimination and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual+ (LGBTQIA+) individuals exacerbate social anxiety. Communication via avatars in virtual communities may be an effective strategy to reduce related symptoms. This study measured social anxiety in LGBTQIA+ and non‐LGBTQIA+ individuals among Japanese users of Pigg Party, a massively multiplayer online game, in physical and virtual communities that use avatars for communication. They answered questions on social anxiety in physical and virtual communities and avatar identification (i.e., the degree of identification of the avatar with the self). The number of avatar customizations and amount of communication via avatars (indexed by the number of virtual peers) were collected based on game logs. The results revealed that the LGBTQIA+ group exhibited significantly higher rates of social anxiety in physical but not virtual communities than the non‐LGBTQIA+ group. Moreover, the LGBTQIA+ group displayed higher levels of identification with avatars than the non‐LGBTQIA+ group. Increased identification with avatars and avatar customization correlated with an increased number of communications via avatars, which was consequently linked to reduced social anxiety in physical and virtual communities. These findings suggest that communication using avatars can reduce social anxiety among LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Regional Comparison of Attachment Strategies for Designing Long-Life Products

In order to reduce mass disposal, it is necessary to design and develop products with long lifetimes. However, few studies have investigated long-life design in terms of value lifetime compared with physical lifetime. Product value consists of use value, Kansei value, and economic value, and the product value lifetime is considered to be reached when any one of these values is lost. Few studies have considered the Kansei value (that is, the perceived or emotional value of a product) and the regional differences in sensitivity to products. In this study focusing on attachment, we analyzed attachment strategies for the design of products with long value lifetimes and examined the regional differences in sensitivity to product attachment. We identified design strategies that are strongly correlated with attachment in Vietnam and Thailand. We also found that Japanese users are less attached to their products than users in Vietnam and Thailand. The findings of this study will contribute to the design of long-life products with high Kansei values.

Contribution of fortified foods and dietary supplements to total nutrient intakes and their adequacy in Japanese adults

BackgroundThis study examined how fortified foods and dietary supplements contributed to total nutrient intakes and their adequacy in Japanese adults.MethodsNutrient intake was estimated from 4-day dietary records of 392 adults (20–69 years) in total intake considering intakes from fortified foods and dietary supplements and in base diets without considering their intake. Users were defined as participants who used at least one fortified foods and/or dietary supplements during the 4-day recording period. The proportion of participants whose intake was below the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) or exceeded the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese was calculated.ResultsIn 122 identified users (31% of participants) of fortified foods and/or dietary supplements, the mean contributions of fortified foods and dietary supplements to total intake were < 4% and < 21%, respectively, for all 25 examined nutrients. Users were more likely to meet the EAR than non-users for six nutrients in the base diets and nine nutrients in the total intake. Among the users, the prevalence of participants below the EAR decreased by ≥ 10% in the total intake compared with the base diet for five nutrients. No nutrient intake from the base diet exceeded the UL in users and non-users; however, vitamin B6 intake in 2% of users exceeded the UL of their total intake.ConclusionAlthough the users of fortified foods and/or dietary supplements had better nutrient intake than non-users in base diets, fortified foods and dietary supplements helped the Japanese users achieve adequate intakes of certain nutrients without a risk of excessive intake (except for vitamin B6).

Cross-cultural Study of Chinese and Japanese Users' Understanding of Emojis

Cross-cultural Study of Chinese and Japanese Users' Understanding of Emojis

Effective provider communication for personal agency in mental health recovery: A cross-sectional study on Japanese users' perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Recovery-oriented practice in community-based mental health services is crucial for individuals with mental illness, with communication with familiar individuals being important for recovery in Japanese and Asian cultures. This study aimed to examine effective communication factors for personal agency in recovery by investigating the association between perceived support provided through communication and personal agency of individuals with mental illness. A cross-sectional study was conducted among community-dwelling Japanese mental health service users, assessing subjective agency, decisional conflict, staff support for personal recovery, activation for mental health self-management, demographic variables and living difficulties. Multiple linear regression analysis identified factors predicting subjective agency, revealing characteristics of effective provider communication for recovery. Data from 222 users were analysed, revealing negative correlations between uncertainty about treatment choices and ineffective decision-making with higher subjective agency, while staff support for personal recovery positively correlated with higher subjective agency. In recovery-oriented practice, prioritizing users' emotional experiences during decision-making and supporting their self-determination in their unique recovery journeys is crucial. Providers should approach dialogue as carefully as medication prescriptions, prioritizing therapeutic partnerships with users. The findings extend beyond nursing to all mental health service providers, advancing the theory of recovery-oriented practice.

The impact of loanwords on the English–Japanese version of vocabulary size test

The Vocabulary Size Test (VST) measures English learners’ decontextualised receptive vocabulary knowledge of written English and has nine bilingual versions with multiple-choice options written in other languages. This study used the English–Japanese version of the VST to investigate the extent to which loanword items were answered correctly by Japanese first language (L1) university students compared to non-loanword items, and whether it was easier to answer these loanword items when the correct answer option was written in loanwords rather than Japanese-words. Paired t-tests showed a significant difference in correct response rates between the loanword and non-loanword items, and the loanword options and Japanese-word options, with a large effect size. The results suggest the relative ease of learning English loanwords compared to non-loanwords for L1 Japanese users, and the need to consider the use of loanwords in vocabulary tests to measure test-takers’ vocabulary size more accurately.

Current management status and spatial utilization characteristics of day‐service‐centers that can provide Chinese language service in Japan

AbstractThis study seeks to clarify nationwide management status and spatial utilization characteristics of day‐service‐centers that can provide Chinese language service in Japan. A comprehensive survey was conducted through mail questionnaires targeting the 115 day‐service‐centers that can provide Chinese language service in Japan, with the objective of explicating their current operational and utilization situations. Additionally, field behavioral observation surveys were carried out in 2 day‐service‐centers, 1 is for Chinese people in Japan or Japanese people from China and the other is for Japanese people. The purpose was to identify the behavioral difference between Chinese users and Japanese users and identify the spatial utilization characteristics in 2 day‐service‐centers.

Politeness Strategies Used by Japanese and Indonesian Speakers on Social Media

This study compares the politeness strategies used by Japanese and Indonesian speakers in communication on social media, based on Brown and Levinson's (1987) politeness theory. To investigate the utilization of politeness strategies in social media interactions, we gathered 200 comments on several contents by public figures on Twitter and Instagram posted in December 2022. The dataset comprises 100 comments from Japanese users derived from posts made by accounts like @yousuck2020, @kishida230, @watanabenaomi703, and @yuriko.koike. The other 100 comments were collected from Indonesian users, originating from accounts such as @fiersabesari, @jokowi, @raffinagita1717, and @ridwankamil. The research findings show a similarity between Japanese and Indonesian speakers, with positive politeness strategy being the most frequently used politeness strategy in social media interactions. This is because there is a common desire to maintain good relationships in communication on social media. On the other hand, differences were observed in the utilization of negative politeness and off-record strategies. The research results reveal that the frequency of negative politeness strategies used by Japanese speakers was slightly higher than that used by Indonesian speakers. In comparison, the frequency of the off-record strategy was lower.

Factors influencing behavioral intentions in livestream shopping: A cross-cultural study

This study aimed to clarify two research questions: (1) How do perceptions of livestream shopping differ between users and non-users across the United States (US), China, and Japan? and (2) Among American, Chinese, and Japanese users, how do personal traits influence perceived social presence and attitudes toward livestream shopping, and how do social presence and attitudes influence behavioral intentions toward livestream shopping? A three-country online survey was conducted in 2023. For Research Question 1, regarding perceptions of stimulating purchases, facilitating communication, and improving personal quality of life, American non-users (N = 480) were significantly more positive than Japanese non-users (N = 572); regarding improving personal quality of life and societal benefits, Chinese users (N = 563) were significantly more positive than American users (N = 290). Results for Research Question 2 showed commonalities and differences between the US and China. Both countries showed positive effects of interpersonal orientation and trust in streamers on social presence, of change seeking and social presence on utilitarian attitudes, and of anticipated regret and social presence on hedonic attitudes. Main differences included the stronger influence of general online trust on utilitarian attitudes in the US versus the stronger influence of trust in streamers on both utilitarian and hedonic attitudes in China.

Cross-cutting exposures on social network sites. The moderating role of national environments

This study explores how social network sites (SNSs) expose users to cross-cutting views. Relying on cross-national data collected among French and Japanese users of Facebook and Twitter, the design of this study allows assessment of the extent to which active and passive social media use fosters cross-cutting exposure in different national contexts. The results show that SNS use is differently related to cross-cutting exposures depending on forms of usage: while active SNS use is associated with a decrease in cross-cutting exposures, passive use leads to more exposure to dissonant views. This study also acknowledges significant variations across national subsamples, questioning the generalizability of results obtained from single case studies.

A cross-lingual analysis on the spread of misinformation using the case of Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19

The spread of misinformation transgresses international boundaries, between languages and cultures. This is especially evident in times of global crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. This study observes misinformation on Twitter in the Japanese and English languages regarding false claims that the drug Ivermectin is an effective treatment for Covid-19. Our exploratory cross-lingual analysis identifies key themes of discussion and influential users in both languages, finding English misinformation to be highly popular amongst Japanese users. Significantly, an analysis of the timing of retweets between languages reveals that Japanese users find and widely share English misinformation often before English users themselves. This contradicts expectations that users from other languages tend to pick up on popular misinformation in English. Instead, they seek out English language sources irrespective of their popularity to support their agenda. These results emphasise the importance of cross-lingual mitigation strategies for organizations trying to combat misinformation, and that they must look beyond their own language spheres.

User Engagement against Online Far-Right Actions in Japan: Driven by High Perceptions of Personal Abilities and Benefits

Abstract This article presents a case study of user engagement against incivility online in Japan, considering three determinants of such engagement identified in a German case study. Japanese users launched the #Internet Rightists Ban Festival in 2018 and are continuing their engagement. As a result, more than 10,500 Twitter accounts have been permanently banned. What drove the participants to initiate and continue their engagement? What type of users attended the festival and led it? This article asks these questions, conducting an inductive qualitative analysis of 3,821 tweets and distinguishing 1,038 participants. It argues that Japanese user engagement has been driven in particular by the perception of personal abilities, such as gaming and comment-writing skills, and the perception of personal benefits, especially from gamification and irony. This article also identifies participants’ left-wing political orientation as an important factor in their continuing sense of responsibility and leadership.

Risk factors for cannabis use disorders and cannabis psychosis in Japan: Second report of a survey on cannabis-related health problems among community cannabis users using social networking services.

To determine the risk factors for cannabis use disorders and cannabis psychosis in Japan based on a 2021 online survey among Japanese users of social network services. The 3142 respondents who had used cannabis within the preceding year were categorized into two groups based on the development of cannabis use disorder and/or cannabis psychosis. Analyses were performed to determine these conditions' risk factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that factors significantly associated with cannabis use disorders were "cannabis-use initiation at a young age" (p= 0.004, OR: 0.951, 95% CI [0.920-0.984]), "family history of mental health problems" (p< 0.001, OR: 1.988, 95% CI [1.545-2.556]), "psychiatric disorders preceding cannabis use" (p= 0.039, OR: 1.672, 95% CI [1.026-2.722]), and "use of cannabis products other than dry flower" (p< 0.001, OR: 2.725, 95% CI [1.844-4.026]). Factors significantly associated with cannabis psychosis were "cannabis-use initiation at a young age" (p= 0.011, OR: 0.888, 95% CI [0.811-0.973]) and "family history of mental health problems" (p= 0.002, OR: 2.531, 95% CI [1.400-4. 576]). Risk factors for problematic cannabis use were cannabis initiation at a young age, pre-cannabis psychiatric disorders, family history of mental health problems, and the use of cannabis products other than dry flower. However, the causal relationship among these factors remains ambivalent.

Age effects in spoken second language vocabulary attainment beyond the critical period

AbstractThe current study set out to examine to what degree age of acquisition (AOA), defined as a learner’s first intensive exposure to a second language (L2) environment, mediates the final state of postpubertal, spoken vocabulary attainment. In Study 1, spontaneous speech samples were elicited from experienced Japanese users of English (n = 41) using storytelling and interview tasks. The samples were analyzed using a range of corpus- and rater-based lexical measures and compared to the speech of inexperienced Japanese speakers (n = 40) and native speakers of English (n = 10). The results showed that most experienced L2 learners tended to demonstrate nativelike proficiency for relatively easy lexical dimensions of speech (i.e., richness), but that AOA appeared to play a key role in predicting the ultimate attainment of relatively difficult lexical dimensions (i.e., appropriateness). In Study 2, the findings were successfully replicated with experienced L1 Polish users of English (n = 50).

Emissions, puffing topography, mouth level exposure and consumption among Japanese users of tobacco heated products

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Tobacco heating products (THPs), which heat rather than burn tobacco, have been demonstrated by a number of studies to produce an aerosol with substantially lower levels of toxicants and reduced cytotoxicity relative to cigarette smoke. As they evolve in design and function, however, it is important to verify that variant THPs maintain sufficient equivalence to the original product if we are to leverage existing foundational datasets. Recent studies suggest that a bridging approach, in which a variant is shown to be comparable to the original product on which a large foundational dataset has been generated, might be used to ensure that the same product-related claims apply.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; In this study, emissions and consumer behaviour were assessed for two variants of glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; THPs: an extensively tested glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; type 1 (glo 2.0), and glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; type 3 (glo hyper) in base and boost modes. Emissions testing was conducted by measuring the percentage reduction of TobReg9 toxicants, relative to a 1R6F reference cigarette.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; Consumer behaviour, including puffing topography, average daily consumption (ADC) and mouth level exposure (MLE) to NFDPM and nicotine was measured among 63 regular glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; users in Tokyo, Japan. Emissions testing showed a substantial reduction in TobReg9 toxicants compared to the reference cigarette (95.5-97.3%), whilst there were no substantial differences in the ADC, puffing behaviour or MLE among the three THPs.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions&lt;/strong&gt;: Emissions analysis based on TobReg9 toxicants and consumer behaviour data provide evidence that the glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; type 3 is comparable to glo&lt;sup&gt;TM&lt;/sup&gt; type 1, indicating the possibility of using a bridging approach for the analysis of variant THPs based on use behaviour alone.&lt;/p&gt;

From karaoke to lip-syncing: performance communities and TikTok use in Japan

This paper discusses the versatile use of TikTok among Japanese media users in the context of the platform's increased appeal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Japanese users have adopted global trends of sharing creative content under prominent hashtags to spread a sense of togetherness in a time of social isolation. As social forms of entertainment are disrupted and paused, the practice of singing and dancing on TikTok is substituted for the joy of singing in a karaoke bar. This study adopts a walkthrough method to provide an analysis of TikTok's sociotechnical affordances and employs a content analysis for close reading of users’ videos and their accompanying captions and hashtags. The study reveals that the socialities previously afforded by karaoke cultures linger in TikTok song and idol dance challenges and duets, hashtag initiatives mimicking karaoke practices, and users’ endeavours to become ‘TikTok famous’.

Cross-cultural differences in information processing of chatbot journalism: chatbot news service as a cultural artifact

PurposeHow does algorithmic information processing affect the thoughts and behavior of artificial intelligence (AI) users? In this study, the authors address this question by focusing on algorithm-based chatbots and examine the influence of culture on algorithms as a form of digital intermediation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a study comparing the United States (US) and Japan to examine how users in the two countries perceive the features of chatbot services and how the perceived features affect user trust and emotion.FindingsClear differences emerged after comparing algorithmic information processes involved in using and interacting with chatbots. Major attitudes toward chatbots are similar between the two cultures, although the weights placed on qualities differ. Japanese users put more weight on the functional qualities of chatbots, and US users place greater emphasis on non-functional qualities of algorithms in chatbots. US users appear more likely to anthropomorphize and accept explanations of algorithmic features than Japanese users.Research limitations/implicationsDifferent patterns of chatbot news adoption reveal that the acceptance of chatbots involves a cultural dimension as the algorithms reflect the values and interests of their constituencies. How users perceive chatbots and how they consume and interact with the chatbots depends on the cultural context in which the experience is situated.Originality/valueA comparative juxtaposition of cultural-algorithmic interactions offers a useful way to examine how cultural values influence user behaviors and identify factors that influence attitude and user acceptance. Results imply that chatbots can be a cultural artifact, and chatbot journalism (CJ) can be a socially contextualized practice that is driven by the user's input and behavior, which are reflections of cultural values and practices.

Kanyouku Dengan Unsur Tumbuhan Pada Media Sosial Twitter

This study only determine the meaning, type and process of forming plant based kanyouku using posts on Twitter from Japanese users in 2020 as a data source. This research used kanyouku formation theory from Miharu and the semantic theory from Chaer which is supported by kanyouku meaning by Inoue. The data accumulation method used in this research is the observation method, by observing the use of language on Social Media Twitter. Then, the methods used in data analysis are the split method and the equivalent method.. The results obtained in this study are first, based on the lexical meaning of plant based kanyouku on Twitter social media consists of the lexical meanings of ki, hana, kusa, take, sakura, momiji. The most used lexical meaning is Hana. Second, based on the idiomatic meaning, it is divided into five types of idiomatic meaning, namely, 1) the meaning of kanyouku which state the senses of feeling or emotion, 2) the meaning of kanyouku which state the state of the body, nature/character, behavior/attitudes, 3) the meaning of kanyouku which state behavior, motion, and actions, 4) the meaning of kanyouku which state conditions, levels and values or prices, 5) the meaning of kanyouku which state society, culture, and life. Third, there are three ways to form plant based kanyouku on Twitter social media, namely verb idioms, noun idioms, and adjective idioms. Fourth, there is kanyouku with two different idiomatic meaning, namely kime ga komakai idiom. Fifth, there are different kanyouku while having the same idiomatical meaning, namely hatake suiren and ki ni yorite sakana o motomu kanyouku.

Trends in the Study of Cultural-historical Phenomena on the Internet (based on a study of Russians’ attitudes towards money)

The development of information technologies has led to the intensification of sociocultural interaction, allowed the creation of new systems for storing and processing information, and provided space for users to share their opinions, ideas, and standpoints. Thus, the Internet has become a major social-humanitarian scientific space. In this modern scientific space, one can single out a wide range of studies in psychology that show which topics are most popular and most widely discussed, or which moral grounds the participants of radical political movements share. Such studies show, for example, that U.S. working people experience psycho-physiological strain, and that infectious diseases spread more easily under modern conditions. This study focused on the attitude that users of the Twitter social network hold towards money. It was carried out by analyzing the texts of messages posted by Russian and Japanese users (background research) which contained the word "money." The research methods included program tools for word frequency analysis, semantic grouping of content, and analyzing the emotional nature of informal short messages. To interpret the results, the authors used expert analysis, theoretical justification, and content analysis. We found that Russians' attitudes toward money can be divided into eight main categories: people, time, country, expenses, economy, philosophical speculations, power, and income. The main economic concerns were centered on the expenses and income coming from salaried jobs. Russians' major expenses were mainly associated with everyday financial problems. A comparison of Russian and Japanese messages revealed a number of clear-cut psychological differences. In conclusion, we point out that analyzing "digital traces" helps uncover a variety of psychological factors influencing human life and behavior. Within the framework of this kind of study, it seems very promising to single out the interconnection between the population's overall psychological features and a given society's existing social-economic circumstances.

Morality-Based Assertion and Homophily on Social Media: A Cultural Comparison Between English and Japanese Languages.

Moral psychology is a domain that deals with moral identity, appraisals and emotions. Previous work has primarily focused on moral development and the associated role of culture. Knowing that language is an inherent element of a culture, we used the social media platform Twitter to compare moral behaviors of Japanese tweets with English tweets. The five basic moral foundations, i.e., Care, Fairness, Ingroup, Authority, and Purity, along with the associated emotional valence were compared between English and Japanese tweets. The tweets from Japanese users depicted relatively higher Fairness, Ingroup, and Purity, whereas English tweets expressed more positive emotions for all moral dimensions. Considering moral similarities in connecting users on social media, we quantified homophily concerning different moral dimensions using our proposed method. The moral dimensions Care, Authority, and Purity for English and Ingroup, Authority and Purity for Japanese depicted homophily on Twitter. Overall, our study uncovers the underlying cultural differences with respect to moral behavior in English- and Japanese-speaking users.