SSM95 (Occupational Prestige Questionnaire)

Date of survey Time of survey Time required

(month) (day)

Start: ______:______ Finish: ______:______

(minutes)

October 1995

Survey designed by: 1995 social stratification and social mobility research group

Survey conducted by: Central Research Services, Inc.

Branch Number Location Number Respondent

Number Interviewer Number Checker

First of all, let me ask you a few questions about yourself. Q1 (1) Gender 1 2 Male Female

(2) What is your date of birth?

Taisho / Showa __________ __________ __________ Western calendar 19 Age year month day year month Notes: 1. Check name list and confirm that you are speaking to the respondent him/herself 2. Refer to the quick-reference chart in the Survey Notes and enter western-style date and age

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Q2 (Show List 1) Please take a look at this list of 20 occupations. (1) Which of these occupations are generally considered to require a high level of education? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer (2) Which of them are generally considered to have high incomes? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer

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(3) Which of them are generally considered to require a high level of skills? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer (4) Which of them are generally considered to be jobs where you can decide for yourself how to do the work? Choose as many as

you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer

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(5) Which of them are generally considered to be physically demanding? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer (6) Which of them are generally considered to have a lot of mental stress? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer

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(7) If you could live your life over again, which of these jobs would you like to try? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer (8) Which of these occupations are generally considered to have a lot of effect on others? Choose as many as you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer

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(9) Do members of your family, relatives or close friends do any of these jobs? Please tell me all the applicable jobs on the list.

(Excluding respondent and his/her spouse) (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer (10) Which of these occupations are generally considered to require a high degree of cultural accomplishment? Choose as many as

you like. (M.A.) 1(a) Professional sportsperson 12(l) Account executive in a large corporation 2(b) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 13(m) Elementary school teacher 3(c) Doctor 14(n) Nurse 4(d) Carpenter 15(o) Farmer 5(e) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 16(p) Waiter 6(f) Store clerk 17(q) Bus driver 7(g) Chef 18(r) Shopkeeper 8(h) Automotive mechanic 19(s) Automotive design engineer 9(i) Section manager in the city office 20(t) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site

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10(j) Fashion designer 29 DK, none of the above 11(k) Police officer

Q3 (Show List 2) Now I am going to show you some cards with the names of various occupations written on them. People often

differentiate between high status occupations and low status occupations. If you were to rank these occupations on five levels from highest to lowest, how would you classify them? For each occupation, choose one of the following levels: highest, quite high, average, quite low, and lowest.

(Ask for each occupation, from “CEO of a large corporation” to “musician.”)

(a) (d) Highest

(b) Quite high

(c) Average Quite low

(e) Lowest

DK

(01) CEO of a large corporation 1 2 3 4 5 9 (02) Electrician 1 2 3 4 5 9(03) Chef 1 2 3 4 5 9(04) Carpenter 1 2 3 4 5 9(05) Waiter 1 2 3 4 5 9(06) Account executive in a large corporation 1 2 3 4 5 9 (07) Doctor 1 2 3 4 5 9(08) Manager of a small or mid-sized company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (09) Flight attendant 1 2 3 4 5 9(10) Architect 1 2 3 4 5 9(11) Nurse 1 2 3 4 5 9(12) Machinery assembler in a large company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (13) Car salesman 1 2 3 4 5 9(14) Coal miner 1 2 3 4 5 9(15) University professor 1 2 3 4 5 9(16) Fishery worker (fisherperson) 1 2 3 4 5 9(17) Railway station worker 1 2 3 4 5 9(18) Letter carrier 1 2 3 4 5 9

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(a) Highest

(b) Quite high

(c) Average

(d) Quite low

(e) Lowest

DK

(19) Child minder 1 2 3 4 5 9(20) Supervisor on an engineering or construction site 1 2 3 4 5 9(21) Fashion designer 1 2 3 4 5 9(22) Police officer 1 2 3 4 5 9(23) Section manager in a small or mid-sized company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (24) Senior government official 1 2 3 4 5 9(25) Elementary school teacher 1 2 3 4 5 9(26) Hairdresser 1 2 3 4 5 9(27) Professional sportsperson 1 2 3 4 5 9(28) Machine assembler in a small or mid-sized company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (29) Farmer 1 2 3 4 5 9(30) Printer 1 2 3 4 5 9(31) Cotton spinner 1 2 3 4 5 9(32) Judge 1 2 3 4 5 9(33) Bus driver 1 2 3 4 5 9(34) Guard 1 2 3 4 5 9(35) Pilot 1 2 3 4 5 9(36) Store clerk 1 2 3 4 5 9(37) Baker 1 2 3 4 5 9(38) Head priest of a Buddhist temple 1 2 3 4 5 9 (39) Banker 1 2 3 4 5 9(40) Shopkeeper 1 2 3 4 5 9(41) Diet member 1 2 3 4 5 9(42) Road worker 1 2 3 4 5 9(43) Section manager in the city office 1 2 3 4 5 9 (44) Furniture maker 1 2 3 4 5 9(45) Insurance salesperson 1 2 3 4 5 9

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(a) Highest

(b) Quite high

(c) Average

(d) Quite low

(e) Lowest

DK

(46) Automotive mechanic 1 2 3 4 5 9(47) Section manager in a large company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (48) Train driver 1 2 3 4 5 9(49) Office worker in a small or mid-sized company 1 2 3 4 5 9 (50) Certified public accountant 1 2 3 4 5 9(51) Wholesaler 1 2 3 4 5 9(52) Pharmacist 1 2 3 4 5 9(53) Automotive design engineer 1 2 3 4 5 9(54) Bank teller 1 2 3 4 5 9(55) Food cannery worker 1 2 3 4 5 9(56) Musician 1 2 3 4 5 9

Q4 (Show List 3) When you were classifying the various occupations just now, how much importance did you place on each of the

following factors?

(a)Very

important

(b) Somewhat important

(c) Not very important

(d) Not at all important

DK

a Education 1 2 3 4 9b Skill 1 2 3 4 9c Responsibility 1 2 3 4 9d Income 1 2 3 4 9e Respect from others 1 2 3 4 9f Contribution to society 1 2 3 4 9g Influence on society 1 2 3 4 9h Creativity 1 2 3 4 9i Autonomy (deciding how to do the work yourself) 1 2 3 4 9

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j Image

1 2 3 4 9k Authority 1 2 3 4 9

Q5 (Show List 4) Now I’d like you to look at this list of various cultural and leisure activities. People often differentiate between high

status activities and low status activities. If you were to rank these activities on five levels from highest to lowest, how would you classify them? Please tell me which level you think applies to each activity from a to l.

(a) (d)

Highest (b)

Quite high(c)

Average Quite low(e)

Lowest

DK a Going to classical music recitals and concerts 1 2 3 4 5 9 b Going to art galleries or museums 1 2 3 4 5 9 c Going to kabuki, noh or bunraku plays 1 2 3 4 5 9 d Going to karaoke 1 2 3 4 5 9e Playing pachinko 1 2 3 4 5 9f Playing tennis or golf, or skiing 1 2 3 4 5 9 g Practicing flower arranging, tea ceremony or calligraphy 1 2 3 4 5 9h Writing tanka or haiku poems 1 2 3 4 5 9 i Taking part in community activities (volunteer or consumer

groups, etc.) 1 2 3 4 5 9

j Reading novels or history books 1 2 3 4 5 9 k Reading sports papers or weekly women’s magazines 1 2 3 4 5 9 l Baking bread and sweets 1 2 3 4 5 9

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Q6 (1) (Show List 5) Assuming we can divide present-day Japanese society into these five levels, which do you consider yourself to fall into?

1

(a) Upper

2 (b)

Upper middle

3 (c)

Lower Middle

4 (d)

Upper lower

5 (e)

Lower

9

DK

(2) (Show List 6) Assuming we can divide present-day Japanese society into these three classes, which do you consider yourself to

fall into?

1 (a)

Capitalist class

2 (b)

Middle class

3 (c)

Working class

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DK Q7 (Show List 7) I am going to read you some statements. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with them.

(a) (d) Strongly

agree

(b) Somewhat

agree

(c) Neither

agree nor disagree

Somewhat disagree

(e) Strongly disagree

DK

a I worry that while I am dawdling, everyone will get ahead ofme. 1 2 3 4 5 9

b It is more important to maintain what you have than to acquire more. 1 2 3 4 5 9

c In my everyday life, I make the best effort I can. 1 2 3 4 5 9

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d Rather than striving for material wealth, I’d like to put more emphasis on spiritual and emotional well-being and living a relaxed life in future.

1 2 3 4 5 9

e I have a lot of good points. 1 2 3 4 5 9 Q8 (Show List 8) I am going to read out another list of statements. Please tell me how important to you each of these things is.

(a)Important

(b) Somewhat important

(c) Not very important

(d) Unimportant

DK

a Being employed in a job with high social status. 1 2 3 4 9b Earning a high income. 1 2 3 4 9 c Achieving a high level of education. 1 2 3 4 9 d Earning the trust and respect of my family. 1 2 3 4 9 e Putting effort into community activities such as volunteer

and neighborhood groups. 1 2 3 4 9

f Playing a central role in clubs for leisure or hobby activities. 1 2 3 4 9 g Having a lot of material assets. 1 2 3 4 9 h Gaining high social status. 1 2 3 4 9

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Q9 (Show List 9) Next I’d like to ask about your current work. a Broadly speaking, which of the categories on this list does your work fall into? (Ask in same way for items b to f) a Broadly speaking, which of the categories

on this list does your work fall into? Employment status 1(a) Business executive, board member

2(b) Permanent full-time employee 3(c) Temporary or part-time employee 4(d) Employed through a temp agency 5(e) Self-employed, freelance 6(f) Employed in family business 7(g) Home worker → ask only e 8(h) Student 9(i) Not employed to Q10 19 DK

b Would you mind telling me the name of your place of employment?

Name of place of employment

(Specify) (For respondents employed through a temp agency, treat the agency as the place of employment)

c What kind of business is it? Type of business of place of employment

(Specify)

99 DK

d Approximately how many employees are there in the whole company (including family members)?

Number of employees 1(a) 1 5(e) 30 – 99 9(i) More than 1000 2(b) 2 – 4 6(f) 100 – 299 10(j) Government office 3(c) 5 – 9 7(g) 300 – 499 19 DK 4(d) 10 – 29 8(h) 500 – 999

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e What kind of work do you do at your place of employment?

Content of respondent’s work

(Specify)

999 DK

f Are you in a management or supervisory position? (If so) Please tell me your actual title. Which of the items on this list is it roughly equivalent to?

Management title 1(a) Not in management or supervisory position 2(b) Supervisor, foreman, team leader, charge hand 3(c) Assistant manager or equivalent position 4(d) Section manager or equivalent position 5(e) Department/Division manager or equivalent position 6(f) President/CEO, board-level executive/director 9 DK Specify

Q10 (Show List 10) Looking at this list, could you please tell me the last school you attended (or the school you are attending now)? It

doesn’t matter whether you graduated from that school or left before graduation. 1(a) Old system ordinary elementary school 12(h) New system junior high school 2(b) Old system upper elementary school 13(i) New system high school 3(c) Old system middle school/girls’ high school 14(j) New system junior college/college of technology 4(d) Vocational school 15(k) New system university 5(e) Normal school 16(l) New system graduate school 6(f) Old system higher school/specialized school/higher normal school 19 DK 7(g) Old system university

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Q11 (Show List 11) What is your marital status? Please choose one item from the list.

1 (a)

Never married

2 (b)

Married

3 (c)

Widowed

4 (d)

Divorced

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DK to Q14 to Q13 to Q14 (For respondents who answered “married” in Q11) Q12 Is your spouse (husband or wife) currently working? (Write whether currently employed or not in the “Currently:” box). (If working) I’d like to ask you about his/her current work. (If a student or not employed) Please tell me about the main work he/she has done to date.

a (Show List 12) Broadly speaking, which of these categories does his/her work fall into? (Ask questions b to d below)

Currently: 1Employed

(current work)

2 Student/Not employed

(ask about main work done to date)

9 DK

a Broadly speaking, which of the categories on this list does his/her work fall into?

Employment status 1(a) Business executive, board member 2(b) Permanent full-time employee 3(c) Temporary or part-time employee 4(d) Employed through a temp agency 5(e) Self-employed, freelance 6(f) Employed in family business 7(g) Home worker → ask only c 8(h) Student 9(i) Not employed to Q13 19 DK

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b Approximately how many employees are there in the whole company (including family members)?

Number of employees 1(a) 1 5(e) 30 – 99 9(i) More than 1000 2(b) 2 – 4 6(f) 100 – 299 10(j) Government office 3(c) 5 – 9 7(g) 300 – 499 19 DK 4(d) 10 – 29 8(h) 500 – 999

c What kind of work does he/she do at his/her place of employment?

Content of spouse’s work

(Specify)

999 DK

d Is he/she in a management or supervisory position? (If so) Please tell me his/her actual title. Which of the items on this list is it roughly equivalent to?

Management title 1(a) Not in management or supervisory position 2(b) Supervisor, foreman, team leader, charge hand 3(c) Assistant manager or equivalent position 4(d) Section manager or equivalent position 5(e) Department/Division manager or equivalent position 6(f) President/CEO, board-level executive/director 9 DK Specify

Q13 (Show List 13) Of these schools, which was the last attended by your spouse (husband or wife) (or which is he/she still attending)? It

doesn’t matter whether he/she graduated or left before graduation. 1(a) Old system ordinary elementary school 12(h) New system junior high school 2(b) Old system upper elementary school 13(i) New system high school 3(c) Old system middle school/girls’ high school 14(j) New system junior college/college of technology 4(d) Vocational school 15(k) New system university 5(e) Normal school 16(l) New system graduate school 6(f) Old system higher school/specialized school/higher normal school 19 DK

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7(g) Old system university Q14 (1) (Show List 14) What was your approximate gross personal income over the past year? Please include any extraordinary or

supplementary income. 1(a) No income 10(j) Approx. ¥8,000,000 (¥7,500,000 to ¥8,499,999) 2(b) Less than ¥700,000 11(k) Approx. ¥9,000,000 (¥8,500,000 to ¥9,999,999) 3(c) Approx. ¥1,000,000 (¥700,000 to ¥1,499,999) 12(l) Approx. ¥11,000,000 (¥10,000,000 to ¥11,999,999) 4(d) Approx. ¥2,000,000 (¥1,500,000 to ¥2,499,999) 13(m) Approx. ¥13,000,000 (¥12,000,000 to ¥13,999,999) 5(e) Approx. ¥3,000,000 (¥2,500,000 to ¥3,499,999) 14(n) Approx. ¥15,000,000 (¥14,000,000 to ¥15,999,999) 6(f) Approx. ¥4,000,000 (¥3,500,000 to ¥4,499,999) 15(o) Approx. ¥17,000,000 (¥16,000,000 to ¥18,499,999) 7(g) Approx. ¥5,000,000 (¥4,500,000 to ¥5,499,999) 16(p) Approx. ¥20,000,000 (¥18,500,000 to ¥22,999,999) 8(h) Approx. ¥6,000,000 (¥5,500,000 to ¥6,499,999) 17(q) ¥23,000,000 or more (enter approximate figure) 9(i) Approx. ¥7,000,000 (¥6,500,000 to ¥7,499,999) 19 DK (2) (For married respondents) (Show List 14) What was your spouse’s (husband’s/wife’s) approximate gross personal income over

the past year? Please include any extraordinary or supplementary income. 1(a) No income 10(j) Approx. ¥8,000,000 (¥7,500,000 to ¥8,499,999) 2(b) Less than ¥700,000 11(k) Approx. ¥9,000,000 (¥8,500,000 to ¥9,999,999) 3(c) Approx. ¥1,000,000 (¥700,000 to ¥1,499,999) 12(l) Approx. ¥11,000,000 (¥10,000,000 to ¥11,999,999) 4(d) Approx. ¥2,000,000 (¥1,500,000 to ¥2,499,999) 13(m) Approx. ¥13,000,000 (¥12,000,000 to ¥13,999,999) 5(e) Approx. ¥3,000,000 (¥2,500,000 to ¥3,499,999) 14(n) Approx. ¥15,000,000 (¥14,000,000 to ¥15,999,999) 6(f) Approx. ¥4,000,000 (¥3,500,000 to ¥4,499,999) 15(o) Approx. ¥17,000,000 (¥16,000,000 to ¥18,499,999) 7(g) Approx. ¥5,000,000 (¥4,500,000 to ¥5,499,999) 16(p) Approx. ¥20,000,000 (¥18,500,000 to ¥22,999,999) 8(h) Approx. ¥6,000,000 (¥5,500,000 to ¥6,499,999) 17(q) ¥23,000,000 or more (enter approximate figure) 9(i) Approx. ¥7,000,000 (¥6,500,000 to ¥7,499,999) 19 DK

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(3) (Show List 14) What was your approximate gross household income (i.e. income for all family members living together) over

the past year? Please remember to include income for all family members in your household. 1(a) No income 10(j) Approx. ¥8,000,000 (¥7,500,000 to ¥8,499,999) 2(b) Less than ¥700,000 11(k) Approx. ¥9,000,000 (¥8,500,000 to ¥9,999,999) 3(c) Approx. ¥1,000,000 (¥700,000 to ¥1,499,999) 12(l) Approx. ¥11,000,000 (¥10,000,000 to ¥11,999,999) 4(d) Approx. ¥2,000,000 (¥1,500,000 to ¥2,499,999) 13(m) Approx. ¥13,000,000 (¥12,000,000 to ¥13,999,999) 5(e) Approx. ¥3,000,000 (¥2,500,000 to ¥3,499,999) 14(n) Approx. ¥15,000,000 (¥14,000,000 to ¥15,999,999) 6(f) Approx. ¥4,000,000 (¥3,500,000 to ¥4,499,999) 15(o) Approx. ¥17,000,000 (¥16,000,000 to ¥18,499,999) 7(g) Approx. ¥5,000,000 (¥4,500,000 to ¥5,499,999) 16(p) Approx. ¥20,000,000 (¥18,500,000 to ¥22,999,999) 8(h) Approx. ¥6,000,000 (¥5,500,000 to ¥6,499,999) 17(q) ¥23,000,000 or more (enter approximate figure) 9(i) Approx. ¥7,000,000 (¥6,500,000 to ¥7,499,999) 19 DK

That’s the end of the survey. Thank you very much.

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