Otobank Reveals "Ear Activity Walking/Fitness" Practices by 70% of Users
Otobank, operating the audiobook service audiobook.jp, announced the results of a survey on "ear activity walking/fitness." The survey revealed that approximately 70% of users engage in these activities, which are becoming a regular habit.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:18 (46 min after Collected)
Otobank Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yuya Kubota; hereinafter "Otobank"), which operates "audiobook.jp," the No. 1 audiobook lineup in Japan (※1), conducted a survey on "ear activity walking/ear activity fitness," which involves exercising while listening to audiobooks.
The results revealed that approximately 70% of audiobook users practice ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, with more than half engaging in it three or more days a week, indicating that it is becoming a regular habit.
※1. According to Japan Marketing Research Organization, November 2023. Survey on the number of Japanese audiobook titles.
■Background of the Survey
"Ear activity walking" and "ear activity fitness" refer to the style of enjoying exercise such as walking, strolling, running, and muscle training while listening to audiobooks.
Joint research by Otobank and Kansai University of Social Welfare also revealed that moving the body while listening to audiobooks shows brain blood flow activation effects equivalent to dementia prevention training (※2).
However, it was not clear how many people actually engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness and for what purpose.
Therefore, this survey was conducted targeting 1,410 audiobook.jp users to clarify the actual situation.
※2. New discovery: Dual-tasking with audiobooks and exercise shows brain blood flow activation effects equivalent to dementia prevention training. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000225.000034798.html
【Survey Highlights】
●Participation Rate: 68.0% of audiobook users practice ear activity walking/ear activity fitness.
●Habituation: 55.4% of participants engage in it three or more days a week, and 67.3% responded that "exercise became easier to habituate."
●Continuity: 62.5% have continued for more than one year, establishing it as a long-term habit.
●Popular Activity: "Walking/Strolling" is overwhelmingly popular at 82.2%.
●Benefits: Users experience dual benefits, such as "good time efficiency" (62.6%) and "learning while doing (self-improvement)" (52.4%).
■Approximately 70% are currently practicing ear activity walking/ear activity fitness.
When asked if they engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, 68.0% responded "yes" ("often engage" 36.0%, "sometimes engage" 32.0%).
This shows that ear activity walking/ear activity fitness is becoming a common way to utilize audiobooks.
■Over 60% continue for "more than one year." Established as a long-term habit.
When asked about the frequency among those who engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness (n=958), 21.3% responded "almost daily," 11.6% "5-6 days a week," and 22.5% "3-4 days a week," totaling 55.4% who engage three or more days a week.
Regarding the duration of engagement, 28.3% responded "more than 3 years" and 34.2% "1 to less than 3 years," revealing that 62.5% have continued for more than one year.
■Approximately 70% feel that "audiobooks made exercise easier to habituate."
When asked if listening to audiobooks made it easier to habituate exercise, 67.3% responded "yes."
Ear activity walking/ear activity fitness is thought to contribute to the establishment of exercise habits.
■Purpose: Health/physical fitness improvement, refreshment. The biggest benefits are "time efficiency" and "learning while doing."
The most common purpose for engagement was "health/diet" (58.1%), followed by "muscle/physical fitness improvement" (46.0%) and "refreshment" (40.6%).
As benefits of ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, many responses indicated experiencing "dual benefits," such as "good time efficiency by being able to read while exercising" (62.6%) and "being able to self-improve and learn" (52.4%).
【User Comments】
I had an exercise habit, but I didn't have time to read. Since I started listening to audiobooks, it's great that I can exercise and read at the same time. (Male, 50s)
Morning walks and learning have become a habit. Waking up early has become enjoyable, and I can concentrate on my work. (Female, 50s)
Learning while increasing blood circulation through exercise makes it easier to retain memories. Also, I can continue monotonous exercises like treadmill without getting bored. (Female, 30s)
A positive cycle has emerged: "I'm curious about the next part of the story, so I'll go for a run." (Male, 40s)
My mind is distracted, and long-distance running and walking are no longer a chore. (Male, 30s)
■"Walking
Keyword:
The results revealed that approximately 70% of audiobook users practice ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, with more than half engaging in it three or more days a week, indicating that it is becoming a regular habit.
※1. According to Japan Marketing Research Organization, November 2023. Survey on the number of Japanese audiobook titles.
■Background of the Survey
"Ear activity walking" and "ear activity fitness" refer to the style of enjoying exercise such as walking, strolling, running, and muscle training while listening to audiobooks.
Joint research by Otobank and Kansai University of Social Welfare also revealed that moving the body while listening to audiobooks shows brain blood flow activation effects equivalent to dementia prevention training (※2).
However, it was not clear how many people actually engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness and for what purpose.
Therefore, this survey was conducted targeting 1,410 audiobook.jp users to clarify the actual situation.
※2. New discovery: Dual-tasking with audiobooks and exercise shows brain blood flow activation effects equivalent to dementia prevention training. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000225.000034798.html
【Survey Highlights】
●Participation Rate: 68.0% of audiobook users practice ear activity walking/ear activity fitness.
●Habituation: 55.4% of participants engage in it three or more days a week, and 67.3% responded that "exercise became easier to habituate."
●Continuity: 62.5% have continued for more than one year, establishing it as a long-term habit.
●Popular Activity: "Walking/Strolling" is overwhelmingly popular at 82.2%.
●Benefits: Users experience dual benefits, such as "good time efficiency" (62.6%) and "learning while doing (self-improvement)" (52.4%).
■Approximately 70% are currently practicing ear activity walking/ear activity fitness.
When asked if they engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, 68.0% responded "yes" ("often engage" 36.0%, "sometimes engage" 32.0%).
This shows that ear activity walking/ear activity fitness is becoming a common way to utilize audiobooks.
■Over 60% continue for "more than one year." Established as a long-term habit.
When asked about the frequency among those who engage in ear activity walking/ear activity fitness (n=958), 21.3% responded "almost daily," 11.6% "5-6 days a week," and 22.5% "3-4 days a week," totaling 55.4% who engage three or more days a week.
Regarding the duration of engagement, 28.3% responded "more than 3 years" and 34.2% "1 to less than 3 years," revealing that 62.5% have continued for more than one year.
■Approximately 70% feel that "audiobooks made exercise easier to habituate."
When asked if listening to audiobooks made it easier to habituate exercise, 67.3% responded "yes."
Ear activity walking/ear activity fitness is thought to contribute to the establishment of exercise habits.
■Purpose: Health/physical fitness improvement, refreshment. The biggest benefits are "time efficiency" and "learning while doing."
The most common purpose for engagement was "health/diet" (58.1%), followed by "muscle/physical fitness improvement" (46.0%) and "refreshment" (40.6%).
As benefits of ear activity walking/ear activity fitness, many responses indicated experiencing "dual benefits," such as "good time efficiency by being able to read while exercising" (62.6%) and "being able to self-improve and learn" (52.4%).
【User Comments】
I had an exercise habit, but I didn't have time to read. Since I started listening to audiobooks, it's great that I can exercise and read at the same time. (Male, 50s)
Morning walks and learning have become a habit. Waking up early has become enjoyable, and I can concentrate on my work. (Female, 50s)
Learning while increasing blood circulation through exercise makes it easier to retain memories. Also, I can continue monotonous exercises like treadmill without getting bored. (Female, 30s)
A positive cycle has emerged: "I'm curious about the next part of the story, so I'll go for a run." (Male, 40s)
My mind is distracted, and long-distance running and walking are no longer a chore. (Male, 30s)
■"Walking
Keyword: