YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa -- Over 80% of university students who responded to this east Japan city's happiness survey indicated that they "currently feel happy."

The questionnaire aimed to understand the mindset and views of young people who will shape the future, and to use this data as a foundation for future municipal governance and policy planning. It was carried out from March to May via an online survey form created by the Yokosuka Municipal Government for students at Kanto Gakuin University and Kanagawa University both in the neighboring city of Yokohama, and received answers from 571 men and 182 women.

A total of 10 questions were asked on topics including the students' views on current situations, work style and career, partnerships and marriage, and having children.

When asked if they think they are currently happy, 37.5% of the students responded, "I think so," and 45.6% said, "I somewhat think so," bringing the total of students who felt contented to 83.1%. There were no significant differences between men and women.

Asked the reasons for their contentment, with multiple selections allowed, the most common response was "good relationships with friends" at 56.5%, followed by "good health" at 56.0%, and "good family relationships" at 46.7%.

On the other hand, 12.5% said they "don't feel happy." With multiple choices permitted, the most common reason was "lack of mental leeway" at 57.4%, followed by "lack of financial leeway" at 48.9%.

Regarding what the students see as important factors in their job choice, with multiple answers allowed, 75.2% of respondents selected "a good workplace atmosphere," and 75.0% chose "good salary and benefits," indicating a strong tendency to emphasize working environment. As for work style, 38.2% said they "could change jobs depending on their career and situation," while 38.2% replied they "want to work at the same company they joined after graduating," showing a divide between students who favor lifelong employment and those who want to work in a way that suits their abilities.

On the topic of marriage, 78.1% of respondents expressed a desire to marry, while 12.2% conveyed their desire to stay single. There was a gap between gender, with 81.4% and 67.5% of men and women, respectively, wishing to tie the knot. Of those who didn't show interest in marriage, 10.2% were men and 18.6% were women.

As for respondents' desire to have children in the future, 69.4% answered that they "want children." But while 73.7% of men expressed desire to have children, only 56.1% of women held the same view. When asked about potential issues for having children, with multiple responses permitted, "financial burden" was the most common concern for both men and women at 81.8% and 78.6%, respectively. Other concerns included "mental burden," selected by 57.7% of women and 33.5% of men, and "physical burden," chosen by 34.6% of women and 20.7% of men.

The Yokosuka Municipal Government analyzed that "women seem to feel not only financial burden, but also mental and physical strain, as well as difficulty in balancing work (and child rearing) when it comes to having and raising children."

(Japanese original by Koichi Fukuzawa, Yokosuka Local Bureau)