Second Interim Report of Research Projecton Gross Arakawa Happiness (GAH)【summary】

August of 2012

Research Institute for Local government by Arakawa City
(RILAC)IndexⅠ. Trial to improve Gross Arakawa Happiness (GAH).........................................................................1
1. Concept of GAH ～indicators and movement～ ............................................................................1
2. Research system ..............................................................................................................................1
3. Meaning of the second interim report of research project on GAH...............................................2
4. Procedures to make tentative GAH indicators ..............................................................................2(1) System of GAH indicators ........................................................................................................2(2) Images of GAH indicators ........................................................................................................3
Ⅱ. Tentative GAH indicators .................................................................................................................4
1. Tentative health and welfare indicators ........................................................................................4
2. Tentative child rearing and education indicators ..........................................................................5
3. Tentative industrial indicators .......................................................................................................6
4. Tentative environmental indicators ...............................................................................................7
5. Tentative cultural indicators ..........................................................................................................8
6. Tentative safety and relief indicators .............................................................................................9
Ⅲ. Examples of happiness indicators in foreign municipalities .........................................................10
Ⅳ. Data analysis of the opinion survey on GAH and future investigation ........................................ 11
1. Data analysis of the opinion survey on GAH ...............................................................................12
2. Future investigations on GAH...................................................................................................... 11
Ⅴ. Plans to use GAH indicators ...........................................................................................................13
1. GAH indicators as a tool to support detecting and sharing problems and decision making .....12
2. Ways to make use of GAH indicators and analyze them .............................................................13
3. Images of using GAH indicators ...................................................................................................18
Ⅵ. Movement for GAH improvement ..................................................................................................23
Ⅶ. Tasks to be examined in the future ................................................................................................25
1. Tasks for indicators and how to examine them ...........................................................................24(1) Examination and implementation of questionnaires on GAH ...............................................25(2) Examination of GAH indicators ..............................................................................................25(3) Examination of integrating GAH indicators ...........................................................................25
2. Relation between indicators and policies or movement ..............................................................25(1) Relation between indicators and policies ................................................................................26(2) Relation between indicators and movement ...........................................................................26
Summary ...............................................................................................................................................25

Ⅰ. Trial to improve Gross Arakawa Happiness (GAH)
1. Concept of GAH ～indicators and movement～
The City of Arakawa established the Arakawa Basic Plan in March of 2007. Arakawa City aims
to be a community where every citizen can feel happy. The word “happiness” or “happiness feeling”
that we use in this report is often expressed as subjective well-being (SWB) in studies on happiness.
In the plan, we proposed six images of the city which we aim to realize after twenty years ( in about2026): ① “City of health during the lifetime of citizens”, ② “City of good rearing and education”,③ ”City of innovation of industries”, ④ “City of advanced environment”, ⑤ “City of maintenanceof traditional culture and creation of new culture”, ⑥ “City of safety and relief.” For each of the six
city images, various policies and projects are launched to improve happiness (or subjective
well-being (SWB)) of citizens, e.g., Gross Arakawa Happiness (GAH).
In GAH, there are two sides of indicators and movement. First, we want to make indicators tomeasure happiness of citizens. Using indicators, we can grasp problems occurring in the community,
make needed political action clear and carry out optical policies to improve happiness of citizens.
Not only Japanese citizens but also people (e.g., students and workers) staying only during thedaytime and foreign citizens are also included in the subject of investigation.
Second, by movement (GAH movement), we mean that all people and organizations related to
Arakawa City think of happiness of themselves, persons close to them, and the community which
would lead to making Arakawa City better. As administration cannot satisfy all needs of citizens.
Movement of administration, citizens, and community altogether play an important role to improve
GAH.

2. Research system
For investigation and research of GAH, the research committee on GAH was organized. It
consists of visiting knowledgeable persons of various fields. They discuss GAH actively from their
special viewpoints. Also, the GAH working group was organized, consisting mainly of young city
workers, because they work in the front line of administration, and grasp various needs of citizens
directly. They mainly made tentative GAH indicators using their knowledge and experiences. The
project team was also organized in order to investigate how existing policies are related to GAH.
The GAH project is carried out in collaboration by the three: the research committee on GAH, theGAH working group, and the project team.

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3. Meaning of the second interim report of research project on GAH
The first interim report of research project on GAH was published in August of 2011. In it,
tentative indicators for health during the lifetime of citizens and for good rearing and education
were shown. In this second interim report of research project on GAH, tentative indicators andtentative questions to citizens were shown corresponding to all six city images. We modified
tentative indicators for health and rearing and education shown in the first interim report from theoverall viewpoint. We also referred to happiness indicators made in foreign municipalities. We show
methods of investigating and analyzing opinions of citizens which would lead to new policies andmovement in the community for improving happiness of citizens. In the future, we are planning toverify relation between tentative GAH indicators and policies through questionnaires andinterviews with citizens.

4. Procedures to make tentative GAH indicators(1) System of GAH indicators
We made indicators corresponding to each of six city images defined in the Arakawa Basic Plan.
We named indicators after the name of each city image: ① Health and welfare indicators, ②Child rearing and education indicators, ③ Industrial indicators, ④ Environmental indicators, ⑤
Cultural indicators, ⑥ Safety and relief indicators.
Happiness Feeling City
"Arakawa"
Happiness Feeling"City of health during
life time for citizens""City of good rearing
and education""City of innovationof industries""City of advanced
environment""City of maintenanceand creation of culture""City of safety andrelief"Health andwelfare indicators

Child rearing andeducation
indicators

Industrial
indicators

Environmental
indicators

Culturalindicators

Safety and relief
indicators2

(2) Imagess of GAH indicators
Images of GAH ind
dicators aree shown beloow.

GAH Inndicators coonsists of su
ubjective weell-being (SWWB) indicattors and relaated indicattors.
(ⅰ) Subjeective well-being (SWWB) indicators
SWB inndicators reeflect self-rreported subjective haappiness of citizens. T
They are noot based onnexisting sttatistical daata, but gra
asped by quuestionnaire
es for citizen
ns and so oon. They con
nsist of thee
SWB indiccator in tota
al and indiccators madee in each off six city immages. The S
SWB indica
ator in totall
can be obta
ained from askingacitizzens “Are yoou happy?” TheseT
SWB indicators play an imp
portant roleein grasping subjectivee happinesss of citizenss and findinng causes ofo unhappin
ness. For ex
xample, theeng citizens “Do you feel healthy?”
health feelling indicatoor is obtained by askin(ⅱ) Relateed indicatorss
In GAH
H indicatorss, related indicators as well as SW
WB indicatorrs are includ
ded. Related
d indicatorss
are subjecttive and objective. They are used forf finding obstaclesotoo happiness of citizens. For
example, the number of crimes anda the nummber of stoleen bicycles area objective indicatorss related tohe proportioon of citizens scared of thet darknesss is a subjeective indica
ator relateddanxiety forr crimes. Th
to anxiety for crimes.
Tentative indicatorrs, tentativee questions, and relate
ed indicatorrs are shownn in Ⅱ.

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Ⅱ. Tentative GAH indicators
The extent that citizens feel happy is located at the highest level in all indicators.
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators

Tentative questions

The extent that citizens feel happy

Do you feel happy?

1. Tentative health and welfare indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators

Related indicators(Examples)

Tentative questions

The extent that you feel healthy

Do you feel healthy?
Do you exercise? (Exercise includes sports such

The extent that you exercise.

as jogging, walk, and going up and down thestairs.)Physical healthTheextent

that

you

have

balanced diet.

a○Life span for health○Proportion of early death○ Proportion of citizens needingcare○ Proportion of citizens falling

Do you eat a balanced diet?

down○Proportion of citizens whose BMI
is more than 25○ Proportion of citizens having
habits of exercise

The extent that you take a rest.

Do you take a rest?

● Proportion of citizens having○ Proportion of citizens eating
vegetables every day

Mental health

Health and welfare

satisfactory diet

Do you have ties with your family or friends?
The extent of ties.

(Ties include relation that you talk with or greet
others.)○Proportion of death by suicide

Feeling for having your own role

Peace of mind

Do you have your role in your home or school or

Do you have time when you feel peace of mind?

Environment for healthIs

medicalcaresatisfactory

in

the

local

community when you become ill or injured? (BySatisfaction with medical care

○Tendency for depression

workplace or local community?

this question, we ask you if facilities of hospitals
and drugstores are satisfactory and if medicalcare is qualitatively satisfactory.)○A number of medical facilities per
population 10,000○ A number of drugstores per
population 10,000

Is welfare for the aged and disabled persons
Satisfaction with welfare

satisfactory

in

your

community?

(By

this

question, we ask you if facilities are satisfactory●Satisfaction with welfare services
for disabled persons

and if services are qualitatively satisfactory.)* Some representatives among many indicators are shown in related indicators. The symbols ● and ○ represent subjective andobjective indicators respectively.

4

2. Tentative child rearing and education indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Related indicators (Examples)
Tentative indicators

Tentative questions

The extent that a parent feels growth

Do you feel that your child grows up in goodof his/her childhealth?

The extent that a parent brings up
his/her child as he/she hopes
Family relation

Satisfactionwithcommunication

betweenparent and child

Do you bring up your child as you hope?
Do

extent

feel

that

there

is

enoughyour home?
Do

The

you

communication between parent and child inthatfamilyunderstands and cooperates
with child rearing

you

feel

that

your

family○Duration of conversation between parent
and childmembers

understand and cooperate with bringing up
your child? (Family members include your● Assignment of roles for child rearing

spouse, your parents, parents of your spouse,

among the family members

or relatives. Family includes members who do
not live together.)Do you think that your child has a regular

regular lifestyle

lifestyle?

●How strictly a child is brought up●The extent that a child gets strength forliving through diet○Results of achievement test
○How many books a child or student reads

The

extent

that

a

child

develops strength for living

Do you think that your child has knowledge,
skill, sociability, or physical strength needed tolive in the society?

●Proportion of parents who feel that theirchild is sociable and kind
○ Results of measurement of physicalstrength○The extent that a child or student learns
foreign languages

Environment for child rearing and education

Child rearing and education

Strength for living

The extent that a child learns●Satisfaction with education in school○A number of recognized bullying●Contribution of financial support to childrearing and education○A number of children on the waiting list
Are you satisfied with undertakings, services,●Contribution of projects supporting childwithor facilities related to child rearing andrearing at homeenvironment for child rearing

education in your local community whether○A number of places where change of aand education

they are provided by private organizations orbaby diaper and nursing are possible

public organizations?

●A number of places where a child canSatisfaction

play○A number of facilities for childcare inservice○A number of accesses to web sites onchild rearing
The extent that the local
community understands andcooperates for child rearing.

Do you think that your local community has an
atmosphere where others understand and● Proportion of citizens having persons

cooperate

who they consult about child rearing

withhouseholds

children?

5

forrearing

3. Tentative industrial indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators
Affluent life

Tentative questions

Related indicators(Examples)

Do you lead a financially and mentally affluent
life?

Work
Industry
Local economy

Stability of life

Do you feel anxious about stably obtaining
income needed to live?

● Proportionofundesirable
irregular employment○Unemployment rate
○ Period when workers remain
unemployed●Proportion of citizens leading anaffluent life

Balance between work and life

Do you feel that your work and private life arebalanced well?

○Working hours● Whether or not citizens haveleisure time

Satisfaction with the work

Do you feel satisfaction or fulfillment with yourwork?

● Proportion of citizens having
places where they are active

Industry of the city

Do you feel that businesses (stores and factories)
in Arakawa City prosper?

○Sales of businesses in the city
○ A number of businesses andemployees in the city
○A number of new products andnew technologies

Convenience for shopping

Do you feel shopping is convenience in Arakawa
City?

○Business hours●Dissatisfaction with a number ofitems

Do you feel that Arakawa City is so attractivethat people from other areas want to visit it?

○A number of visitors to Arakawa
Amusement Park
○ A number of visitors to Rose
Festival○A number of visitors to facilities
and events in the city

Attractiveness of the city6

4. Tentative environmental indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators

Tentative questions

Satisfaction with the living environment

Do you live comfortably in the local community?

Related indicators(Examples)

Convenience and universal design

Barrier-free facilities

Do you feel that the aged and disabled persons
are considered in the business and public
facilities in the local community?

○ Proportion
facilities

Kindness

Do you feel that citizens actively help persons
having trouble in the local community?

○ Proportion of citizens knowing
movement of kindness in the city

Do you feel that transport is convenient in thelocal community? (By transport, we mean
movement by train, by bus, by car, by bicycle,
and on foot.)○ A number of bicycles parked
wrongly○Time to the nearest transport● Proportion of citizens feelingconvenience in driving and parking
a car● Proportion of citizens feelingconvenience in transport within
and beyond the city
● Proportion of citizens feelingcomfortableness in walking in thecity

Do you feel that the sights and greenery are
beautiful in the local community?

● Proportion of citizens feelinguniformity in a row of houses●Proportion of citizens feeling thatsight of the city is beautiful○Proportion of the green

Do you feel uncomfortable in the living
environment? (By “uncomfortable”, we meannoises, bad smells, vibrations, bicycles thrown
away, littering of cigarette butts, and so on.)

○ A number of complaints aboutnoises○ A number of complaints aboutbad smells○ A number of complaints about
vibrations○A number of citizens smoking inthe street near a station○ A number of bicycles thrownaway

Do you feel the global environment by saving
electricity and lessening garbage?

○A quantity of retrieved resources○A quantity of discharged garbage○Recycling rate
○A number of households leading
an ecological life

Convenience of transport

Environment
Beautiful sights of the city
ComfortablenessComfortablenessenvironment

Sustainability

Sustainability

of

the

living7ofbarrier-free5. Tentative cultural indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators
The extent that you feel satisfied withleisure time and contact with culture

Leisure activity

Satisfaction with leisure time

Related indicators(Examples)

Tentative questions
Are you satisfied with your leisure time andcontact with culture?

Are you satisfied with your leisure time?

CultureSatisfactory lifelong study facilities

Do you feel that there are satisfactory facilities
where you can study during your whole life inyour community?

Attachment to the local community

Do you feel attachment to and pride in culture
and characteristics of Arakawa City?

●Chances of leisure activities andcultural activities● Whether or not citizens haveleisure time
○A number of cultural facilities○ A number of cultural orrecreational events○ A number of visitors to thelibrary○ A number of participants insports events○ How many times lectures oflifelong study are held
●Satisfaction with participation in
the local events●Proportion of citizens interested
in culture of Arakawa City
●Proportion of citizens feeling thatArakawa City is attractive● Interest in local brands ofArakawa City

Local culture

Do you exchange satisfactorily with others in thelocal community?

● Satisfaction with chances thatcitizens can have relations withothers in the local community● Satisfaction with places ofrecreation and relaxation

Reliable acquaintances

Do you have reliable acquaintances in the local
community?

● Whether or not citizens canconsult or rely on others about childrearing●Proportion of citizens feeling thatthey and their neighbors help eachother on disasters

Generosity to different cultures

Do you feel that residents in the local community
have kindness and generosity to foreigners?

Satisfaction with relations withothers in the local community●

8

Interest

insymbiotic societies

multicultural6. Tentative safety and relief indicators
Tentative SWB indicators
Tentative indicators

The extent of safety and relief

CrimesAnxiety about crimes

Tentative questions

Related indicators(Examples)

Do you feel that the local community is safe?
(In safety, safety against crimes and disasters is
included)

Do you feel anxiety about crimes in the local
community?

Do you feel danger of traffic accidents related tobicycles, cars, and so on in the local community?

Safety for living

Do you feel danger of accidents besides traffic
accidents while you are at home or school orwork? (In accidents mentioned here, falling due
to no handrail or no fence, and accidents ofbabies are included.)

Personal preparation

Do you sufficiently prepare for disasters such as
earthquakes, fires, or storm and flood damage
and feel relieved?

Ties and mutual help on disasters

Do you think that you and your neighbors canhelp each other on disasters?

Protection against disasters

Do you think that the local community isdisaster-resistant?

Accidents

Traffic safety

Disaster

Safety and relief

9○A number of recognized crimes○A number of stolen bicycles● Proportion of citizens feelinganxiety in darkness○A number of street lights○A number of security cameras○A frequency of safety patrol○A number of citizens killed andinjured in traffic accidents○A number of bicycle accidents○ A number of participants intraffic safety campaign●Proportion of citizens feeling that
traffic rules are obeyed○ A number of citizens having
bicycle licenses○ A number of accidents whileleading a daily life reported to thepolice● Proportion of citizens feelingthere are near-miss incidents whileleading a daily life○
Proportionofearthquake-resistant houses○ Proportion of citizens fixing
furniture so it will not fall downfrom earthquakes○Proportion of citizens stocking up
on food for three days
○ A number of participants in
disaster prevention practice○ Proportion of citizens knowing
evacuation sites○Frequency of disaster prevention
practices○A number of citizens belonging tovolunteer fire brigade● Proportion of citizens having
reliable persons in case of disaster● Proportion of citizens havingneighbors they can speak to○ Proportion of noncombustiblearea○Rank of danger of local area
○Proportion of old houses○The extent that food is stocked
sufficiently○A number of evacuation sites

Ⅲ. Examples of happiness indicators in foreign municipalities
GAH is an indicator for the local area of Arakawa City, as its name shows. It is important toknow how happiness studies are in progress now in local areas of the world. In this chapter, we
introduce trials to make happiness indicators in foreign municipalities, compare them with GAH,
and discuss their characteristics.
We obtain two implications for the future study on GAH. The first is that happiness indicators
are studied not only by governments of many countries but also by local municipalities of many
countries. The second is that happiness indicators are shown in various ways inherent to eachmunicipality.
GAH is an original SWB indicator different from existing happiness indicators. Its originality
consists in the following three points: First, GAH has been made and checked mainly by city
workers belonging to the GAH working group and project team. Second, it consists mainly of SWB
indicators. Third, its purpose is improving SWB of citizens and making policies and causing
movement of citizens and organizations to improve happiness of citizens.
Investigation of happiness indicators by foreign municipalities
Indicators

Nationandmunicipality

A numberofdimensions
5 domains,23
dimensions

A numberofindicators
93

Community Indicators
Victoria(CIV)

Victoria,
Australia

The Seattle Area
Happiness Initiative（SAHI)

Seattle, USA

8 domains,subjective
happinesson topSubjective
9 Objective
19(2011
Seattle)Community Wellbeing
MonitorOnkaparinga,
South
Australia,
Australia

23 items

44

Wellbeing Watch
Hunter happinesswellbeing index

Hunter Valley,
New
South
Wales,
Australia

10
dimensions,
40 items―

Minnesota Milestones

Minnesota,
USA

19 goals70

Oregon Benchmarks(OBMs)

Oregon, USA

3 goals,7
dimensions,91
indicators

91

Main dimensions

Presentation
results

Healthy safe and inclusive communities
Dynamic resilient local economies
Sustainable
built
and
naturalenvironments
Culturally rich and vibrant communities
Democratic and engaged communities
Overall wellbeing (Affect (feeling) andsatisfaction with life, not a composite of all
the domains)
Psychological wellbeing
Material wellbeing
HealthCommunity vitality
Cultural vitality
GovernanceEcological vitality
Time balance
Environment
Economic development
Social development
HealthSubjective wellbeing
surveys.
Existing data wereshown for each field.
Not integrated.

To provide a community wellbeing
indicator framework with local level data.

Subjective
surveyresults.
Objective indicators.
Not integrated.
Presented simply asreport cards andradar charts.

The project provides policy makers withinformation, awareness, tools, technicalassistance and services. It also provides
individuals with a guide for deeper
awareness and a means for a morethoughtful assessment of their own lives.

Objective indicators.
Not integrated.

Demographics
Employment
Education
Income and assets
Family and social relationships
Housing and neighborhood
Crime and safety
HealthHealth services and medicines
Key predictors of wellbeing
Citizens
Community and democracy
EconomyEnvironment

A wellbeing index
was created byaveraging the scoresof all six questions.
The wellbeing index
has a range of 1 to 5.
The trends for eachfield were seen.

Essential part of “Community Plan
2028.”
Happiness of community is also goal of“the South Australian State Strategic
Plan 2014.”
The key aim is to identify issues
significantly associated with wellbeing in
the Hunter. The secondary aim is to track
how residents are living by comparing
findings for the Hunter Region over timewith the rest of NSW.

Objective indicators.
Not integrated.

To help citizens, communities and public
officials track progress toward 19 goals.

Goal 1: Quality jobs for all Oregonians(Economic happiness)
Goal 2: Engaged, caring, safe communities(Social happiness)
Goal 3: Healthy, sustainable surroundings(Environmental happiness)

Objective indicators.
Not integrated.

To measure progress in strategic “Oregon
Shines Goals.”

10ofPurposesWe have seen various happiness indicators at foreign local area level. As a result, we learned
many useful points. Simultaneously, we also recognized that GAH has many original characteristics
different from foreign indicators.

11

Ⅳ. Data analysis of the opinion survey on GAH and future
investigation
In this chapter, we show analytical results of the opinion survey on GAH. We also show details ofquestionnaires which are planned for the future.

１. Data analysis of the opinion survey on GAH
Investigations on GAH have been made in the opinion survey of Arakawa City since 2006 till
2011. From analysis of them, we showed how SWB was affected by various attributes of
respondents and how SWB was related to satisfaction on living, safety and relief, ties with the local
community, something to live for. We showed relation between respondents’ attributes andfrequencies of participation in local activities and events which are one GAH movement. We showed
what respondents of each local area desire for administration. In the future, we need to grasp
citizens’ SWB in detail by using indicators as well as by the opinion survey.

2. Future investigations on GAH
In future questionnaires, we plan to include workers and students who live in Arakawa City
only in the daytime as respondents in addition to Arakawa citizens. We also plan to include foreign
citizens. We plan to investigate happiness of children. There are the following ways to choose
respondents from all Arakawa citizens. (ⅰ) random sampling every year, (ⅱ) to investigate thesame persons for several years continuously (panel survey), (ⅲ) to investigate persons having clear
needs. We plan to use random sampling mainly, while we plan to use methods (ⅱ) and (ⅲ)
complementarily. We plan to investigate SWB indicators on the initiative of our institute, while weplan to use results of questionnaires by each section of the city office on related indicators in case ofneed. Answers of respondents are generally measured by four categories, five categories, and sevencategories. Considering merits and demerits of each option, the optimal option needs to be chosen.
We want to grasp citizens’ consciousness from descriptions by free writing and interviews, as well asfrom multiple category questions.

12Ⅴ. Plans to use GAH indicators
In this chapter, we show how GAH indicators are useful for forming and improving policies andGAH movement. Below we show our present thinking, and expect it to be improved in the future.

1. GAH indicators as a tool to support detecting and sharing problems and decision
makingBy analysis of SWB indicators and related indicators, we can find obstacles to citizens’ happiness,and find and share problems occurring in the local community. Not only administration but also all
people and organizations related to the city are involved in detecting and sharing problems in thelocal community. A quantity of information supporting decision making must be sufficient todetermine optimally what policies are needed to solve shared problems. Analysis of GAH indicators
would provide such information. GAH indicators would be a tool for all people and organizations
related to the city to detect and share causes of citizens’ unhappiness and anxiety, and problems in
the local community. GAH would be also a tool for providing information that supports decision
making for solving problems. Our standpoint is using GAH indicators as such a tool, which would
lead to improving GAH indicators and GAH movement.

13

2. Ways to make use of GAH indicators and analyze them
Based on concepts mentioned above, we show a tentative analytical method of GAH indicators
which would lead to forming and improving policies and GAH movement. We mention such amethod in detail as shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 1 Relation between Gross Arakawa Happiness (GAH) and policies or GAH movement①Analysis and estimation
Analysis and estimation about actual happiness by GAH indicators
・Investigation and analysis by SWB indicators
・Investigation and analysis by related indicators
・Analysis of descriptions by free writing and interviews

Grasp of needs throughAnalysis and estimation of

investigation of previous studies

existing policies②Grasping and sharing problems③Forming and improving policies and GAH movement

Policies

GAH movement④Solving problems by conducting policies and GAH movement

Policies

GAH movement14

① Analysis and estimation
We analyze and estimate citizens’ actual happiness by GAH indicators to find obstacles tocitizens’ SWB and problems in the local community. For this purpose, we proceed as follows:(ⅰ) Analysis of happiness indicators
Based on actual numerical values measured by SWB indicators calculated from answers byquestionnaires for citizens, we can detect obstacles to citizens’ SWB and problems in the local
community. Below we show five examples of analytical methods as follows:
The first is to analyze correlation among 46 SWB indicators. From correlation analysis, we canknow which indicator affects happiness, and which would help to form and improve policies.
The second is to analyze relation between respondents’ attributes and SWB indicators. By this,we can know attributes of citizens who do not feel happy. The image of this analytical method isshown in Fig. 2. We calculate numerical values by SWB indicators for each group of citizens having
the same attributes such as sex, age, and residential area. By comparing these numerical values,
we can know attributes of citizens who do not feel happy and have problems and difficulties.

Fig.2 Methods to analyze SWB indicators for each attribute

Distribution of
SWB indicators
for the group A

A

gap

can

be

detectedbyanalysisforeach attribute.

Distribution of
SWB indicators for
The whole citizens

The third is to find citizen groups who have similar numerical values of SWB indicators, as
shown in Fig. 3. By analyzing attributes of groups having similar numerical values, we may
concentrate on administrative services exclusively for such citizen group having specific needs. For
15

example, we assume that citizens, having low numerical values of safety and relief feeling, live
particularly in certain local areas. Then we can form and improve policies for such local areas.
Fig. 3 Methods to grasp attributes of citizens having similar SWB.

Citizens

havingsimilar

SWB

aregrouped.

Characteristics of each group are obtained.
e.g.) Attributes such as residential area and age are obtained.

Attributes of citizens having needs are grasped,and policies for them are conducted.
The fourth is to make a radar chart of SWB indicators for each group of citizens having similar
attributes. We can follow up changes of the radar chart over several years. As we can see in Fig. 4,
we make radar charts of SWB indicators for the group A at a certain point in time. We want to know
how this radar chart changes over five years. By combining radar chart and interviews with thosebelonging to the group A, we can possibly know what factors cause change in SWB.
Also, when we continuously investigate the same citizens by panel survey, we want to make aradar chart of SWB indicators for each individual and know how the radar chart changes over time.
The radar chart for each individual might not change very much over a short period. However, it
would be important to investigate changes over a long period of 5 to 10 years.

Fig. 4

Methods to analyze changes in SWB indicators by radar chart.

Radar chart of SWB indicators
for the group A

Radar chart of SWB indicators
for the group A
Health and welfare
5

Health and welfare
544
Safety and relief

3Child rearing andeducation

2
1

Safety and relief

32After 5 years

Child rearing andeducation

1
0

0

CultureIndustry

CultureEnvironment

Industry

Environment

Changes in trends of radar chart over years can be found.

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(ⅱ) Investigation and analysis of related indicators
By making use of related indicators, we can grasp problems, which are detected by analyzing
major SWB indicators, in detail.
(ⅲ) Analysis of descriptions by free writing and interviews
In future questionnaires for citizens on GAH, we plan to have citizens describe their opinions by
free writing. Then we could grasp citizens’ happiness and problems in the local community which
would not be grasped by multiple category questions. Text mining would be useful for analyzing
descriptions by free writing. By text mining, sentences described by free writing are divided intosome words. Frequencies of use of a specific word and correlation with other words can be obtained.
It would be possible to grasp latent wants and needs of citizens and problems of administrative
services. Interviews with citizens would be also useful for grasping citizens’ happiness and problems
in the local community.
(ⅳ) Grasp of needs and investigation of previous studies
We can grasp what needs citizens have not only by analyzing results measured by SWB
indicators and related indicators but also by supplemental questionnaires and hearing surveys
conducted about specific issues. It would be also necessary to investigate previous studies andunderstand problems thoroughly.
(ⅴ) Analysis and estimation of existing policies
We investigate whether existing policies are sufficient or not and how existing policies
contribute to solving problems.
It is possible to conduct five methods of analysis and estimation shown in ( ⅰ ) ～ ( ⅴ )simultaneously. It is also possible to conduct some of the five prior to others. It is desirable to adopt
proper methods of analysis and estimation and to grasp problems comprehensively.

② Grasping and sharing problems
We expect not only that our local government makes use of analytical results and estimation
obtained in ①, but also that all people and organizations related to the city read the report, andunderstand GAH problems in the local community. Then they can grasp what factors cause citizens’
unhappiness and anxiety and problems in the local community.

③ Forming and improving policies and GAH movement
Based on the above analytical results, we examine methods to solve comprehensive problems wegrasp and share. Policy issues which administration must decide and improve are included in these
problems. Also, GAH movement, in which all people and organizations related to the city are
involved, is included. Policy-making and GAH movement are conducted together or separately.
When problems cannot be solved only by existing methods, we plan new methods. In case of need,17we set our objective to act for solving problems, and raise target numerical values to improve SWB
indicators and related indicators.

④ Solving problems by conducting policies and GAH movement
We make and improve policies and conduct GAH movement. They may be conducted on theinitiative of administration. Policies may be formulated by administration and conducted incooperation with citizens and organizations in the local community. All people and organizations
related to the city may hopefully commit to problems in the local community and collaborate forsolving them.
After policies are decided and GAH movement are conducted, we go back to the process ①, andanalyze and estimate results. By rotating the above processes ①-④, we aim to remove causes ofcitizens’ unhappiness and anxiety and solve problems, which would lead to improving happiness of
citizens and making a warm local community.

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3. Images of using GAH indicators
To make and improve policies for improving happiness of citizens, we need to consider how
policies lead to improvement of happiness. Below we show how policies lead to improvement of SWB
indicators and related indicators, which is based on the following considerations:・ For each city image, we pick up one SWB indicator and show policies which would contribute toimprovement of it and its related indicators in Fig. 6.
・ We do not show the causal relationship between indicators and policies, but flow of results
expected from implementation of policies.
・ We mainly examine policies which administration makes, taking activities of citizens,enterprises, and non-profit organizations into account.
In Fig. 5, we show how implementation of policies is related to SWB indicators and related
indicators for “the city of advanced environment.”19

Fig. 5 Relation between environmental policies and SWB.
Happiness Feeling Indicators
Beauty of the view of the city

Improve

Related Indicators

View of thecity
Proportion of citizens
feeling beauty in theview of the city ( % )GreenImprove
Proportionof thegreen (%)

Proportion of buildings notsuited to regulations(%)

Increase

Area ratio ofparks to thewhole city (%)

Park area per
population (%)(All indicators areaffected)

Policies【Project for making
parks】
Area of parks andplaygrounds（ha）【Project for arranging
narrow lands as green
spots】【Project to plant roses
along Tram】

A number of places【Projects for citizens' taking care of flowers on
flower beds in the streets】
A number of flower beds

【Policy to arrange thelocal environment】【Regulations on the view of
the city】
Proportion of Proportion
prevented
of adopted
Proportion of corrected
conflicts ondesires ofmatters (%)
construction enterprises

A number ofroses
A number ofcitizens
participating in
the project【Policies related toregulations on the green】
A number of preserved trees
Length of planted hedges（m）
Increased green （㎡）【Regulations on condominiums】
Proportion of corrected matters (%)

A number of applicants for monitors
promoting flowers and green
A number of applicants for the prize
for the green

20【Environmental
promotion】
A number of applicants
for concours on
posters and slogans
A number of registeredenvironmental
supporters
A number ofparticipates inenvironmental
workshops

Individual
environmental
activities (green
curtains etc.)

Local
environmental
activities(promotion andpreservation of
the green)

Environmental
activities ofenterprises(concern about
the green andpreservation of
the view)

(ⅰ) Outline
As we can see in Fig. 5, we pick up the SWB indicator of beauty of the view of the city, andarrange its related indicators and policies related to them.
(ⅱ) Consideration
We examine two viewpoints of the view of the city and green which affect beauty of the view of
the city very much.
(a) View of the city
Whether or not citizens feel beauty in view of the city depends on their subjective feeling. It
is necessary to ask each citizen if the view of the city is beautiful. Proportion (%) of citizens
feeling that the view of the city is beautiful is one subjective indicator for measuring beauty ofthe view of the city.
Also, we can objectively judge beauty of the view of the city from whether or not regulations
controlling the view of the city are formed and obeyed. When builders make houses andbuildings, it is important to control the view of the city by regulations so that it matches a row
of houses. In this point, administration plays an important role.
In fact, regulations were enacted for conserving the beautiful view of the city. Various trials
are in progress for keeping the view of the city beautiful. In regulations on building up andmanaging condominiums, the beautiful view of the city is considered.
If such regulations are obeyed, the view of the city expects to improve little by little. Then
we can raise what proportion of buildings is suited to regulations as objective indicators on theview of the city. Also, what proportion of buildings not suited to regulations are corrected is anobjective indicator on the view of the city.
(b) GreeneryGreenery in the local area brings citizens relief, and also improves the view of the city. In
the urban area such as Arakawa City, it is necessary to increase the greenery on the public
lands such as parks and streets. It would be also useful to increase the greenery everywhere in
the city by activities and mutual cooperation of citizens. As indicators of the greenery, we canraise proportion of the greenery, area ratio of parks to the whole city, park area per population.
To improve these indicators, extension of parks and arranging narrow lands as green spots
would be effective. Also, it is important for citizens themselves to take care of flowers on flower
beds in the street.
We showed how implementation of policies is related to SWB indicators and related indicators
above. The implications from the above examination are as follows:・ Above we showed an example of flow so that implementation of policies contributes toimprovement of SWB indicators and related indicators. In the future, we need to investigate
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relation between individual indicators and policies in detail.
・

Improvement of SWB indicators and related indicators would be possible only when various
policies are simultaneously implemented. Then it is important to examine and implement
policies in collaboration with all sections of the city office.

・ It is important for individuals and various organizations in the local community to cooperateand collaborate for improvement of happiness. Then GAH movement would play an importantrole. For this purpose, we need to link GAH movement and policies more strongly in the future.
We tentatively examine relation between GAH indicators and policies or GAH movement atpresent. When we conduct questionnaires for citizens and analyze and estimate them in the future,
we need to reexamine how to make use of GAH indicators.

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Ⅵ. Movement for GAH improvement
As mentioned in Ⅰ, there are two sides of GAH: indexing and movement. In this chapter, we
mention GAH movement. Administration assists citizens in becoming happy. Not only Arakawa
citizens but also all people and organizations related to the city need to consider happiness ofthemselves, persons close to them, and local community and act together for pursuit of happiness.
If citizens and all people and organizations related to the city are involved in the movement tomake the city better, it would be possible to construct a warm local community where everyone canfeel happy. For this purpose, it is important to promote movement to improve GAH (GAHmovement) in the future.
Below we introduce examples of movement to improve GAH.

① Activities of neighborhood associations, residents’ associations, and welfare commissioners,
commissioned child welfare volunteers
Various local activities are performed in the local community by citizens and organizations
mainly on the initiative of neighborhood associations and residents’ associations. For example,
citizens and organizations participate in watching the aged persons, child rearing, and protection
against disaster in collaboration with the city office. Neighborhood associations, residents’associations welfare commissioners, commissioned child welfare volunteers, probation officers,
sportsassociations,youth

development

associations,

volunteer

firebrigades,non-profit-organizations, enterprises, and so on participate in such activities.

② Activities of eating places within the city to serve healthy food and drink
Some eating places within the city provides special menus so that citizens can have a healthy
meal. Eating places, Kagawa Nutrition University, and the city office collaborate mutually and try
to promote health in the all citizens. Each eating place provides delicious and healthy menus
characteristic of each eating place.

③ Activities of aged volunteers in fall prevention exercise
The city office developed the original fall prevention exercise for aged persons in collaboration
with citizens and Faculty of Health Sciences of Tokyo Metropolitan University. This exercise wasmade for aged persons to maintain muscles, sense of balance, and walking ability. Aged volunteer
leaders spread this exercise: They arrange venues, demonstrate exercise, and speak to participants,
which contributes to vitalizing the local community.

④ Activities of aged volunteers in watching children
For ensuring safety and relief of children, the employment service center for older people
dispatches staffs who attend to children going home from elementary schools or after-school childday-care centers, and watch gates and surroundings of nursery schools. In addition to this activity,23

neighborhood associations, residents’ associations, non-profit-organizations, mother associations,
youth development associations, and people concerned with schools participate in watching and so
on voluntarily in each local area.

⑤ Activities of universities, the local community, and administration to relieve isolation in childrearing
A volunteer circle rents a private house and provides childcare services. Visitors feel relieved asif they were at home due to support of devoted volunteers. The house is crowded with many parents
and children.

⑥ Activities of citizens to relieve isolation in child rearing
Young parents engaged in child rearing have the following opinions: “There are no places whereparents feel relieved with children.” “Parents cannot feel at ease at restaurants with a baby
carriage.” Managing commissioned child welfare volunteers provided a resting place in the districtof Shioiri in support of management associations of condominiums, Arakawa Council of Social
Welfare, and the city office. There parents engaged in child rearing interact mutually and exchange
information, drinking coffee or tea. There is a playroom with toys. Therapies, music therapies, andEnglish plays are also held.

⑦ Activities to make new sightseeing spots
The 13,000 roses of 140 kinds are planted along Tram Arakawa Line which is the symbol of thecity. Colorful roses bloom in spring and autumn. Many people outside the city visit Arakawa City to
see roses. A volunteer group in Arakawa City takes care of roses.

⑧ Activities of citizens to rescue others in case of disaster
Disaster-preventive organizations of citizens are formed in neighborhood associations andresidents’ associations of Arakawa City. In some organizations, rescue system of carrying others on
the back and rescuing them in case of disaster is established. System of evacuating vulnerable
people safely in case of emergency is established in each area.

⑨ For bringing up people conducting local activities
For making the warm local community where ties with others are regarded as important, it isessential to bring up people conducting local activities. Arakawa Community College opened in2010 in order that people conducting local activities can acquire necessary knowledge and skill. It is
expected that movement to make the city better spreads by efforts of people of various careers.
As mentioned above, various local activities are performed in Arakawa City at present. It is
expected that such local activities will increase in the future, which would lead to realization of awarm local community.

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Ⅶ. Tasks to be examined in the future
Finally we show tasks to be examined in the future.

1. Tasks for indicators and how to examine them
(１) Examination and implementation of questionnaires on GAH
We need to examine survey subjects, sampling methods, and questions for the future
questionnaire on GAH. Answers of respondents expect to change corresponding to a little
modification of questions. Then questions must be examined sufficiently. In many previous works, anumber of answer choices was four, five, seven, and so on. We need to choose the number of answer
choices optimal for grasping citizens’ SWB. It would be effective to investigate change in happinessof the same persons over the years. It is necessary to examine which methods from various methods
are adopted. Citizens of less than twenty years old are not included as subjects of the present survey.
It must be examined whether these citizens are included in the subjects of the future survey.

(２) Examination of GAH indicators
In this report, we showed tentative GAH indicators for each of six city images. In the future, itneeds to be examined whether or not tentative GAH indicators reflect citizens’ SWB properly. For
this purpose, we need to make use of analytical results of questionnaires, descriptions by freewriting, and interviews with citizens. When we detect problems in tentative GAH indicators orquestions as a result, we need to modify tentative GAH indicators or questions suitably and reflect
modification in the future questionnaire. Also, citizens’ happiness can possibly change with time,and be affected by social situations. From such viewpoints, we need to examine and modify GAH
indicators suitably.

(３) Examination of integrating GAH indicators
Hereafter we need to examine whether tentative GAH indicators are presented separately or
integrated into the numerical value. In the latter case, it is desirable to integrate individual
indicators by using the weight which reflects citizens’ SWB properly. For this purpose, we need to
ask citizens’ weighting for individual indicators for six city images in the future questionnaire.
When GAH indicators are integrated, it also needs to be examined whether GAH indicators areintegrated into one numerical value for each city image or all GAH indicators are integrated into
one numerical value.
When indicators are integrated, calculated numerical values represent citizens’ SWB roughly.
Then it would become difficult to grasp SWB in detail. Even if the calculated numerical value rises,
citizens’ happiness does not always improve. A minority of unhappy citizens may live in Arakawa
City. It is important not to overlook such a possibility and to decrease the number of unhappy
citizens.
It is desirable to grasp citizens’ happiness roughly by integrating indicators and to detect and25

solve problems in detail by analyzing SWB indicators and related indicators.

2. Relation between indicators and policies or movement(１) Relation between indicators and policies
We need to analyze results of the questionnaire, and to form and improve policies. We also needto investigate various methods to analyze indicators and to adopt better methods.

(２) Relation between indicators and movement
First, GAH movement makes Arakawa city workers’ motivation increase. It is important for city
workers to be proud that they positively participate in a GAH movement in which citizens become
happy.
Second, it is important for citizens to consider happiness of themselves, persons close to them,and the local community through GAH movement. To consider others and help each other anddisplay citizens’ own abilities would lead to improvement of citizens’ happiness and realization of awarm local community.
In Arakawa City, there are already movements which would lead to improving GAH. City
workers always work considering what they can do to improve happiness of citizens, so that such
movements succeed hereafter. We transmit plenty of information so that citizens, all people andorganizations related to Arakawa City can understand significance of GAH.

Summary
By measuring happiness of citizens, we want to provide administrative services, and decrease
citizens’ unhappiness as much as possible and construct a local community where every citizen canfeel happy. That would lead to citizens-centered administration. We regard features where citizens
help each other as important for the future. We want to decrease unhappiness and increasehappiness and construct a local community where every citizen can feel happy.

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