Abstract
This study discusses the permeation of the term kyōsei shakai (society of coexistence) in Japanese society and
analyzes the forms and background of perceptions of this term, with a focus on the respondents' educational
experiences. Since 2010, the author has conducted six social awareness surveys with similar survey designs; this
paper presents the changes over time in survey items with the same content.
The following three items summarize the findings of this paper: First, overall the degree of understanding of the
term “society of coexistence” is increasing within the Japanese society. Moreover, understanding this term is
associated with a broader perspective of social awareness.
Second, a comparison of the survey results in 2019 and 2023, however, showed that the percentage of respondents
who knew what the term “society of coexistence” meant declined, whereas the percentage of respondents who had
never heard of the term increased. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a gap in social awareness between those who
understand the term and those who do not has been widening. Additionally, the social interaction with minorities is
declining overall.
Third, perceptions of the term “society of coexistence” depend on one’s degree of educational experience.
Moreover, considering the associations with respondents’ high school learning and experience, the group that
valued intellectual curiosity and exploration showed an increasing awareness of the term “society of coexistence.”
https://ror.org/00ntfnx83 
