Happy?
Mari wrote on her blog about the World Map of Happiness but - Japan (and other Asian countries) ended up rather low in the rankings. Any ideas why this may be the case? Why is Japan ranked so low?
Sweden ranked 7, which is nice, and the number one spot went to Denmark:
1.Denmark
2.Switzerland
3.Austria
4.Iceland
5.Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
19. Norway, 23. US, 41. UK
68.Taiwan
82.China
90.Japan
103.South Korea
125.India
The map is based on an analysis of the results from over 100 studies. It uses data published by by UNESCO, the CIA, the New Economics Foundation, the WHO, the Veenhoven Database, the Latinbarometer, the Afrobarometer, and the UNHDR.
Comments
One of the mysteries of big cities in Japan is that the people forgot to plant trees and make room for parks. I do think greenery is essential for making people a little more happy.
Today it was even smoggy here in Kashima. I live only a few kilometers from the ocean and usually the prevailing wind keeps the air clean, but not today. It reminded me of my youth in southern California. Cough.
By "get of there" I meant to get back here to the farming area where I live, where I am surrounded by trees and vegetable fields, don't need ear protection, know most of the people I see, and can listen to the cicadas and bush warblers.