1. The Constitution of Social Capital and Support Systems: A U.S. - Japan Comparison Mito Akiyoshi Senshu University

2. How do we compare and contrast the composition of networks across societies?

3. Personal Community Study By Shinsuke Otani (1999) A study of personal community networks in Japan A study of personal community networks in Japan A valuable attempt to compare Japan to the US and Canada A valuable attempt to compare Japan to the US and Canada Confounding effects of community, country, period, and questionnaire design  inconclusive results Confounding effects of community, country, period, and questionnaire design  inconclusive results

4. Otani’s Datasets-apples and oranges? Japan- Chugoku-Shikoku Survey (1989) by Otani Japan- Chugoku-Shikoku Survey (1989) by Otani US -Northern California Community Study (1977) by Claude S. Fisher and GSS (1985, 1986, 1987) US -Northern California Community Study (1977) by Claude S. Fisher and GSS (1985, 1986, 1987) Canada - East York Social Network Studies (1968, 1989) by Barry Wellman Canada - East York Social Network Studies (1968, 1989) by Barry Wellman

5. Yet the question remains important …

6. Interests in social relations renewed with the introduction of “social capital” in political discourse The concept of social capital (Putnam’s version in particular) is imported into the vocabulary of policy-makers in Japan. The concept of social capital (Putnam’s version in particular) is imported into the vocabulary of policy-makers in Japan. The Cabinet Office commissioned a study on social capital in 2002. The Cabinet Office commissioned a study on social capital in 2002. Social capital is treated as a panacea to various social problems in the report. Social capital is treated as a panacea to various social problems in the report.

7. But we do not know… How is the composition of supportive networks compared across societies? How is the composition of supportive networks compared across societies? An important question because it is concerned with the generalizability or universal validity of the concept as an analytical framework. An important question because it is concerned with the generalizability or universal validity of the concept as an analytical framework.

8. Dataset International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) 2001 Social Relations and Support Systems 2001 Social Relations and Support Systems Based on common questionnaires- comparative analysis made easy. Based on common questionnaires- comparative analysis made easy.

9. Study Description United Stats United Stats N=1,149 N=1,149 February 2002 (GSS) February 2002 (GSS) Adults (21+) Adults (21+) Multi-stage area probability sampling Multi-stage area probability sampling In person, self-admin’ed questionnaire In person, self-admin’ed questionnaire Japan N=1,321 November 2001 16 yrs old and older Two-stage stratified random sampling Drop-off-pick-up questionnaire

10. The Japanese are embedded in family and kin-centered Networks. Likely to live with adult children and/or elderly parents Likely to live with adult children and/or elderly parents Likely to have a relative or family member as their “best friend” Likely to have a relative or family member as their “best friend”

11. The Japanese are more likely to live with their adult children and elderly parents than Americans

13. The Japanese are likely to live with their elderly parents and adult children. 48% of the Japanese live with at least one child aged 18 or older. (18% in the US) 48% of the Japanese live with at least one child aged 18 or older. (18% in the US) 21% of the Japanese live with their mother (5% in the US). 21% of the Japanese live with their mother (5% in the US).

14. Americans value the idea of taking care of family more than the Japanese do.

15. Americans value family care and support Americans agree with the statement “Adult children have a duty to look after their elderly parents” more than the Japanese do (36% Americans versus 25% Japanese strongly agree). Americans agree with the statement “Adult children have a duty to look after their elderly parents” more than the Japanese do (36% Americans versus 25% Japanese strongly agree). 44% of American respondents strongly agree with the statement “You should take care of yourself and your family first, before helping other people,” versus 36% of the Japanese. 44% of American respondents strongly agree with the statement “You should take care of yourself and your family first, before helping other people,” versus 36% of the Japanese.

16. The Japanese are more likely to identify a relative as their best friend.

17. A Relative as One’s Best Friend A Relative as One’s Best Friend “Now think about your best friend, the friend you feel closest to (but not your partner). Is this best friend…” 1 a male relative 2 a female relative 3 a man who is not a relative 4 a woman who is not a relative 5 I don’t have a close friend

18. 31% of Americans and 55% of the Japanese identify a relative as their best friend. 31% of Americans and 55% of the Japanese identify a relative as their best friend.

19. In general, the Japanese have stronger family- or kin- based relations. In general, the Japanese have stronger family- or kin- based relations. But who in each country are more likely to seek support and companionship from relatives? But who in each country are more likely to seek support and companionship from relatives?

20. Who choose a relative as their best friend? Japan : Women, older people and married people Japan : Women, older people and married people U.S. : Lower income (association is not very strong); gender, age, and marital status are NOT statistically significant U.S. : Lower income (association is not very strong); gender, age, and marital status are NOT statistically significant