If you live in Fukui, Toyama or Ishikawa, it is likely you’re happier than people living in Ōsaka.
I must confess “Are you joking ? There are at least 3,76 okonomiyaki restaurants per square meter in Ōsaka, if this isn’t heaven, then what is it ?” was my first reaction.
A study by Hosei University analyzed each prefecture regarding life expectancy at birth, birth rate, number of criminal reports and other socio-economic factors (40 in total) to determine its “degree of happiness”.
With a low rate of unmarried persons leading to a high birth rate, a high rate of employment for handicapped persons and a high ratio of full time employees, combined with a low number of crimes, Fukui ranked number one.
With a high number of people needing (and receiving) livelyhood pension and a bad public order, Ōsaka and its myriad of okonomiyaki restaurants ranked last…
Blessed with a gorgeous natural environment and people dedicating a lot of time to their hobbies, Toyama ranked second, followed by Ishikawa where the unemployment rate is low and political measures protect the weaks.
Yay for Hokuriku !
(This article is absolutely not related to the fact I’ll be living in Hokuriku next year)
Complete ranking (survey conducted before the Big Tohoku Earthquake) :
