The present study aimed to enhance the mutual understanding between Japan and Korea through an investigation of clothing behavior, and obtain basic data for fashion marketing aimed at the elderly. A questionnaire survey was conducted on individuals aged 60 years and above living in urban areas in Japan and Korea, from Spring to Summer 2003. Data adopted for the analysis in the present study was obtained from 134 Japanese males, 137 Korean males, 177 Japanese females, and 168 Korean females. The main results obtained from the survey are as follows: 1) Regarding living conditions, it was found that the source of income for unemployed elderly was largely dependent on pensions in Japan, and on support from children in Korea. Regarding hobbies, while traveling was common among the elderly in both countries, taking lessons and participating in religious activities were characteristic of Japan and Korea, respectively. 2) According to the average scores among 26 items in a 5-point evaluation regarding clothing preference, which included aspects of selecting and purchasing clothes, dressing, and fashion sense, it was observed that the elderly in both countries attached greater importance on the mobility, functionality and handling properties of materials, and had a strong desire to look clean, elegant, and young, rather than slovenly. The main difference observed between Japanese and Korean elderly was that both male and female Koreans preferred to dress more plainly than Japanese. 3) In the factor analysis, 3 to 4 factors with an eigenvalue of ≥ 1 were extracted for both male and female Japanese and Koreans, and the factor “aware of others' evaluations” was consistently cited as the first or the second factor. Factors reflecting “comfort” and “functionality” were also observed in all groups. The factor “dressing appropriately for the elderly” was observed only in male and female Japanese. 4) In the factor analysis examining individuals in their 60s, and those in their 70s and above, the factor “purchasing with strong preference” was observed only in individuals in their 60s. The factor “preference for luxury items” was observed in both age groups among Korean females. Among Japanese males, “dressing to look young” and “dressing appropriately for the elderly” were observed as the factors for individuals in their 60s and those in their 70s and above, respectively. Among Korean males, the factor “dressing to look young” was observed only in individuals in their 70s and above, and “dressing appropriately for the elderly” was observed in both age groups.

View full abstract

This research involved 172 residents of various homes for the aged with a view to clarifying factors that regulate their subjective well-being. Focused in the study is the aged's relation with the specific child(ren) who is/are very close to them (more specifically, support given or giving, recognition of the relation, and expectation deriving from the relation). In other words, how or to what extent the subjective well-being is determined by what factors. The results of the analysis show that the factors to increase the subjective well being of the old people are: good financial status, good health, and relation with the child(ren), i.e., high support given or giving, high degree of positive recognition of the relation, low degree of negative recognition, and high dependency on the child(ren). It may be noted that the relation with the frequency of their contact and that their contact frequency indirectly affects the subjective well-being by way of the relation with the child(ren).

View full abstract

There are various phases in a process of decision-making, and a process of food preparation normally presents a rich variety of such phases that would offer opportunities to train students in developing their decision-making capabilities. This research aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of learning food preparation in terms of the subject matter. A total of 456 university students and high school students were the subjects of this study. They were classified into two types; those majoring or specializing in food preparation and those not majoring or specializing in it. Their value consciousness and decision-making ability were analyzed on the basis of the questionnaire sent and collected both prior and susequent to respective classes of food preparation. The results of the study are as follows: The research confirmed that both the university students and the high school students majoring in food preparation showed higher learning effectiveness on their value consciousness and decision-making capabilities in food life than those not majoring in food preparation. In other words, those with learning experience in food preparation faired better than those with no such experience. From the above, it is clear that the learning effect promotes the cultivation of decision-making ability in food life.

View full abstract

The Amish people have maintained their traditional lifestyle in America for more than 200 years by controlling information-related activity. This paper clarifies the Amish food recipes on the “Homemaker's Page” published in the monthly Amish magazine, Family Life. Many more recipes for confectionary appeared than for main dishes containing vegetables, meat and fish. Most of these recipes were for traditional dishes dating back to the 19th century which are characterized by the use of home-produced foodstuffs such as onions and eggs. All recipes in the magazine were contributed by the readers. The Family Life magazine therefore provides the Amish with a route for communication through the diet, and raises their consciousness to unite their community, strengthen their identity and maintain their traditional lifestyle.

View full abstract