#Japan #Tokyo #Tokyo Children Survey #Children Policies #Youth Happiness

The Results of Tokyo's Children Survey 2025

In a bid to cultivate a society that prioritizes children, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has undertaken the 2025 Children’s Survey. This initiative is aimed at evaluating the lives and perspectives of children and parenting generations in the city, continuing from previous studies that initiated in 2023. The findings this year shed light on both the happiness and challenges faced by the youth in Tokyo.

Key Findings

1. Happiness Trends Among Youth

One of the notable outcomes is that a significant proportion of children in Tokyo feel positively about their happiness in the present. However, the rate of those who express satisfaction appears to decrease as they progress in their school years. Disturbingly, one in four 17-year-olds reports experiencing lower mental health levels, raising concerns about the pressures adolescents face today.

2. Increased Use of Generative AI

Compared to the results from the 2024 survey, there has been a remarkable rise in the use of generative AI among children. This technological integration reflects a shift in the educational landscape. Parents reported feeling less burdened by financial worries regarding child-rearing and education, hinting at evolving resources that can ease these traditional concerns.

3. Gender Disparities

The survey also highlighted interesting gender discrepancies. Data points reveal noteworthy differences in responses between male and female students, indicating the necessity for gender-sensitive policy approaches in child welfare programs.

4. Voices of Children and Parents

The research placed emphasis on gathering the opinions of both children and their parents. It aimed to capture their perceptions about their environments, social connections, and overall quality of life within Tokyo’s urban fabric.

5. Schools and Living Spaces

Findings also discuss children's feelings towards their schools and local communities. Survey responses reveal a varying sense of belonging and comfort in these spaces, underscoring the importance of enhancing these environments to foster better development.

Publishers of the Survey

The detailed survey results are available on the Children’s Policy Collaboration Office’s website. Reports have also been tailored for the children interviewed, accommodating their developmental stages. The three versions of the children’s report encompass feedback from third-grade, fifth-grade, and seventh-grade students, including those at 17 years old. Each report is designed to convey the collected results in a child-friendly manner, ensuring the youth understand the implications of the findings.

Visit the Children’s Policy Collaboration Office for more in-depth information about these findings and the children's reports.

Survey Overview

• - Name of Survey: Tokyo Children’s Survey – Considering “Now” and “Future” Together
• - Survey Period: From May 7, 2025, to May 31, 2025
• - Target Participants: 10,500 households of children residing in Tokyo, including third and fifth graders, second-year middle school students, a sample of 17-year-olds, and parents of three-year-olds (totaling 19,500 individuals).
• - Response Rate: 42.7%

These efforts align with the 2050 Tokyo Strategy, emphasizing the promotion of policies tailored to the viewpoints of children, and striving for a future where young people's voices are prioritized and respected.