Over Half of High School Students in the Reiwa Era Do Not Read Books! How Frequently Do Those Who Read Consume Them?

## Reading Habits of High School Students in the Reiwa Era

Amidst the diversification of entertainment options such as smartphones, social media, and video streaming, how much does the habit of reading persist? "Wakamono Research," a marketing information site targeting teenagers and high school students, conducted a nationwide survey on reading habits.

### 54.8% of High School Students Do Not Read

The survey results showed that 45.2% of respondents "read books," while 54.8% "do not," confirming that more than half do not have a reading habit.

The most common reasons cited for not reading were "time spent on digital entertainment such as smartphones, social media, and videos." Many respondents also expressed that they "dislike or find reading tedious" or are "too busy with studies and extracurricular activities."

The findings suggest that for high school students in the Reiwa era, reading is often a low priority. Encouraging reading would require crossing an extremely high threshold: providing content that is "more fun than social media yet beneficial and readable in a short amount of time."

### Reading Frequency Ranking

Among those who do read, the frequency of reading is as follows:

- **1st Place: "One book every 3 months" (35.9%)**
Interest in reading is generally moderate, with priorities often given to manga, games, and social media. This group often practices "trigger-based reading," consuming books only when they encounter an interesting title, or reading bit-by-bit during spare time.

- **2nd Place: "One book per month" (19.5%)**
Often prompted by school requirements. Many feel this amount is realistic considering their busy schedules with studies and club activities.

- **3rd Place: "One book per week" (16.4%)**
This group reads purely for pleasure. They often have specific purposes, such as expanding their knowledge, or have established routines like borrowing books from the library regularly.