Survey finds 35% in Japan feel lonely amid pandemic; young people hit hardest

More than 35% of people in Japan feel lonely and isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, a government survey showed on April 8. Young people in their 20s and 30s felt the loneliest, the survey showed.

The survey polled 20,000 people aged 16 and older nationwide in a random sample in December.

Asked whether they feel lonely, 4.5% said they often or always feel that way, while 14.5% said they feel lonely sometimes and 17.4% said they feel lonely every once in a while.

People in their 30s were most likely to say they often or always feel lonely, at 7.9%, while 7.7% of people in their 20s said the same. The lowest rate was for those in their 70s, at 1.8%.

However, the survey showed that about 62% of respondents said they either hardly or absolutely do not feel lonely during the pandemic. (Kyodo)

isolated
（形）孤立した、分離した、隔絶した
◆feel isolated（孤独を感じる、孤立していると感じる）
◆After living alone for many years, the man began to feel isolated.
（何年も一人で暮らした後、男は孤立し始めた）

survey
（名）調査、概観、世論調査
（動）調査する、見渡す、測量する
◆survey content（調査内容）
◆The survey showed that many people agree with the government’s new policy.
（その調査は、多くの人が政府の新しい政策に同意することを示した）

random
（形）無作為の、でたらめの、思い付きの
◆random sample（ランダム・サンプル、無作為標本）
◆Random people were chosen to answer the survey questions.
（世論調査の質問に答えるため、無作為に人が選ばれた）

while
（名）少しの時間、時間
（接）～の間ずっと、～する間に
（動）穏やかに経過させる、（暇などを）つぶす
◆in a while（すぐに、間もなく）
◆The woman has not visited her parents in a while.
（その女性はしばらくの間、両親を訪ねていない）

likely
（形）～しそうである、起こりうる、もっともらしい
（副）たぶん、恐らく
◆most likely to …（～する可能性が最も高い、最も～しそう）
◆The weather forecast said it is likely to rain tomorrow.
（天気予報によると、明日は雨が降る可能性がある）

rate
（名）割合、比率、変化量、料金
（動）値踏みする、評価する格付けする
◆the lowest rate（最低の率）
◆The economics report showed that the interest rate has reached a record low.
（その経済レポートは、金利が記録的な低水準に達したことを示した）

respondent
（名）応答者、被告
（形）応答する、反応する、被告の
◆respondent to a survey（調査対象者）
◆The survey respondents all said they were happy to participate.
（世論調査の回答者は全員、参加して満足していると言った）