In this generation, not only boys but also girls want ‘game player’ the most!

Oita Godo Newspaper (evening edition on January 18, 2008)

What do you think about how Japanese children spend their new-year money?

Money received from parents or elder relatives during the New Year will be spent on buying game players by both of young boys and girls. According to Oita Trusty Association’s 20^th survey called “The questionnaire of how to make use of new-year budget”, the mentioned result was reported.

Among boys, this result is still at first rank as same as last time of the survey, but elementary school girls also decrease their attention from previous results, toys or western clothes, to ‘game players’. This soaring attention pushed ‘game player’ to be the first rank for girls likewise. It seems that children in this generation perceive ‘GAME’ as the thing they can never miss in life.

Looking from age differences, the big change appeared in the group of elementary school girls.  In the past, lower year students mostly answered “toys and dolls” whereas higher year student always answered “western clothes”, “CDs”, “books” as standard answers. However, the answer has been changed to “games” (including software), even though ‘game’ was a symbol of only boys.

“I can feel the new era has come” said a person taking charge of this survey.

By the way, both boys and girls in nursery schools and below still want toys and dolls. As well, girl students in middle schools and above still desire western clothes. The same results did not change.

In my opinion, this situation may reflect the gender equality which is increasing in Japanese society. Boys and girls have the same right to do the same activities such as in this case girls are allowed by their parents to play games more than before.

PUNTHUCHAT Siripun

Thailand

APS2, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University