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The central government, the prefectures, and local municipalities make use of statistical data as key indices to plot the future direction of policies and initiatives. There are two types of statistics: primary statistics (base statistics) drawn from original materials, and secondary statistics (derived statistics) consisting of indices and other parameters derived from primary statistics. Statistics cover a wide variety of field, and there are many field-specific statistical publications.
This guide introduces some of the largest statistical references and databases to help you search through the maze of statistical information available.

Statistics Search Tools

Index of Statistical Data Sources [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau] （book）
Allows you to search by keyword for the statistical studies conducted by government ministries and agencies, governm ent-related bodies, and private-sector organizations as well as for the operational statistics and fabricated statistics these organizations release to the public.
Tokei Chosa Soran(Conspectus of Statistical Studies) [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau, Statistical Standards Division] （book）
This reference provides detailed information on statistical studies conducted by the central government, municipal governments, and the Bank of Japan in accordance with the Statistics Act. There are separate editions for the central government (central ministries) and for local governments (prefectures and cities).
Kancho Tokei Tettei Katsuyo Gaido (Comprehensive Guide to Using Government Statistics) [JMA Research Institute, Marketing Data Bank] （book）
This reference provides explanations and hints on how to use statistics generated by government authorities. Explains 101 different statistics in a question-and-answer format, such as what research fields are the study findings applicable to. Unfortunately, publication ceased after the 2005 edition.
Tokei Chosa Shiryo Gaido (Guide to Statistical and Study Resources) [Ryukoku University Research Institute For Social Sciences] （book）
This reference compiles by subject statistical resources edited and issued by various domestic and overseas organizations. It includes several features not seen in other references, such as the year each statistical document was first published, a chronological table of social conditions at the time the statistical document was inaugurated, and data on bibliographic transitions. Contains an index of titles and an index of editing and issuing organizations.
Chiho Tokei Gaido (Guide to Regional Statistics) [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau, Statistical Standards Division] （book）
This guide contains statistical studies created by the prefectures and the government-decreed cities. Although the guide collects surveys conducted between 1992 and 1996, it also contains statistical data provided by regional governments online or in comprehensive statistical documents.
Hakusho Tokei Sakuin (Index to White Paper Statistics) [Nichigai Associates] （book）
This is an index for finding statistical data, such as charts and graphs, contained in 100 kinds of white papers issued domestically. The index contains 15,321 white papers, from both government organizations and private-sector organizations.
Hakusho no Hakusho (The White Paper to White Papers) [Kimoto Shoten] （book）
This reference contains 730 types of basic data taken from 40 kinds of government white papers. In addition to charts, this white paper provides a table of contents and a brief summary for each white paper, which gives a great overview of each white paper.

Comprehensive Statistical Documents

Government statistics

Japan Statistical Yearbook [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau] （book）
This key statistical yearbook encompasses all statistical data on Japan. It includes 670 different kinds of statistical charts, and fields are divided into chapters. The index provides about 5,000 keywords in both English and Japanese. Charts from the most recent edition can be downloaded from the Statistics Bureau's Web site.
Japan Statistics [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau] （book）
This compact edition includes the key basic statistics selected from the Japan Statistical Yearbook. Charts from the most recent edition can be downloaded from the Statistics Bureau's Web site.
Tokei de Miru Nihon (Japan Seen Through Statistics) [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau] （book）
Using charts and other devices, this reference explains various fields connected with Japanese citizen's wellbeing, such as territorial, economic, and social fields.
Municipal Year Book of Japan [Japan Association of City Mayors] （book）
This statistical reference tabulates studies by the Japan Association of City Mayors and includes survey materials from related government bodies and other organizations.
The 23 Tokyo wards are also considered to be a single city, and data for this city are listed as Tokyo (23 wards).

Private-sector statistics

Nihon Kokusei Zue (The State of Japan) （book）
This statistical document provides numerical values, charts, and clear explanations of various Japanese statistics, such as Japan's territory, national defense, and the Japan Self-Defense Force. Sources are given for each chart, which can be used to find more detailed information.
Minryoku : Todofukenbetsu Minryoku Sokutei Shiryoshu (National Manpower: National Manpower Measurements by Prefecture) [Asahi Shimbun Shuppan] （book）
Defining the energy of Japanese citizens in fields such as production, consumption, culture, and livelihoods as national manpower, this reference compares manpower indices by region using statistics related to these fields. Comprises leading indexes, manpower indices, document collections, and reference data. A CD-ROM version is also available.
Deta de Miru Kensei: Nihon Kokusei Zue Chiiki Tokeiban (Regional Power Seen in Data: The Regional Edition of the State of Japan) [Yano Tsuneta Kinenkai] （book）
This is the regional edition of the Nihon Kokusei Zue. The preface contains information on the administrative mergers and realignments of towns and cities. It also offers regional statistics not published in the Nihon Kokusei Zue with finer prefectural and municipal divisions.

Other Frequently Used Statistical References

Shijo Sen'yuritsu (Market Shares) [Nikkei] （book）
This statistical reference provides graphs of market shares in consumer product markets. Since detailed numerical statistics are not given, you must turn to the references for more detailed numerical statistics.
Surveying of Statistics about Population of Japan [Seikatsu Joho Center] （book）
This collection primarily lists charts taken from studies conducted by the central government and other government bodies. It unfortunately omits some parts of the original charts due to space and theme limitat ions. The 2006 edition is the latest edition.

Databases of Statistical Data

Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan (e-Stat) [National Statistics Center] （public Web site）
This portal site for government statistics began operation in 2008 based on the Plan to Optimize Operations and Systems for Statistical Studies and Similar Operations, drafted by the Ministerial CIO Liaison Group. Using the site, you can access various statistical data from government ministries, official plans, recent information, questionnaire information, and other statistical references.
Web Site of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau [Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau] （public Web site）
This site devoted to statistics is operated jointly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau, the Director-General for Policy Planning (Statistical Standards), and the Statistical Research and Training Institute. You can download various data sets such as population censuses, family income and expenditure surveys, and the Japan Statistical Yearbook.
Public Opinion Polls [Cabinet Office] （public Web site）
The Cabinet Office conducts public opinion polls to ascertain the public's opinion on government policies. Survey interviewers visit and interview several thousand people selected statistically from across Japan. This site consolidates data from these polls.

Useful Sites on Statistical Data

Statistical Materials for Learning about Japan [National Diet Library] （public Web site）
The contents of this site consist of Reference Tools for searching for statistical data. Long-term Statistics, Comprehensive statistics exhaustively covering all areas, summarized statistics in selected areas limited to certain categories, and a wide variety of Primary Statistical Data.
Tokei Shihyo no Kandokoro (The Keys to Understanding Statistical Indices) [Statistical Survey Division, Toyama Prefecture] (public Web site)
The online version of the book with the same title that compiles in a plain, easy-to-follow compact format explanations of everyday economic issues and economic terminology, explanations of statistics, and future outlooks. The most recent edition, the 23rd edition, was published in 2006.
Statistics of Japan [Sato Laboratory, Ehime University] (public Web site)
This site provides links to government, ministry and agency, and private-sector bodies supplying statistical data. The links are divided into 15 fields and 60 categories. The site was last updated in 2007, so some of the links no longer function.
Public Opinion Poll Index [Japan Association for Public Opinion Research] (public Web site)
This site takes public opinion poll data published in Yoron, a regular bulletin of the Japan Association for Public Opinion Research, and tabulates the survey owner, the survey period, the surveyed region, the respondent conditions, the survey method, the number of samples, the number of responses/response rate (%), and the selection method. Information is updated each April and October.

User Support Department Oct. 2009