Similarities and differences in leisure conceptualizations between Japan and Canada and between two Japanese leisure-like terms

要旨

This study investigated similarities and differences in leisure conceptualizations between Japan and Canada and between two Japanese leisure-like terms: yoka and rejā. To address these purposes, we developed the Leisure Ten Statements Test (LTST). The LTST asks people to provide 10 open-ended responses to a prompt (e.g., “Leisure _____”). Responses from university students in Japan and Canada were classified, and then statistical analyses were conducted on the proportions of the 26 resulting categories. Results indicated that: (1) leisure conceptualizations differed not only between Japan and Canada but also within Japan depending on terminologies; (2) the loanword rejā has different meanings from its original English word, leisure, suggesting that it has adapted Japanese cultural contexts; and (3) the Japanese leisure-like term that best compares with the English word leisure varies depending on which specific aspect of leisure is of interest.

主題