Focus Group Interviews with Japanese University Students: Reflections on the Joys and Challenges of Fieldwork

Abstract

Focus groups are being used as a qualitative method of data collection in several of the social science disciplines. In fall 2024, we conducted 14 focus group interviews with Japanese university students for our research project on demography and democracy in Japan. We set out to inquire how the aging of Japanese society affects youth attitudes and interest in politics. We also asked which strategies the youth employ to make their voices heard in the political arena. In this paper we introduce focus group interviews as a method in social science research on Japan. We offer insights into the processes of designing and conducting focus group interviews with university students, while highlighting methodological considerations specific to research in Japan. We aim for this paper to serve as a resource for researchers who are considering related research approaches.