Onigiri Consumption and Interest in Arancini Among University Students Survey

Onigiri Consumption and Interest in Arancini Analysis

Research Topic: Onigiri and Arancini

Target: Japanese and International students

Number of respondents: 32 (15 Japanese students, 17 International Students)

Summary: Students answered 4 questions about onigiri and 8 questions about arancini.

Results:

Graph #1 shows most respondents like onigiri. 78% of respondents like onigiri, 12.5% of respondents feel neutral about onigiri and 9.4% of respondents don't like onigiri. 

Graph #2 shows Tuna Mayonnaise emerged as the most popular choice with 19 votes (59.4%), followed by Salmon with 14 votes (43.8%). Pollock roe and Chicken tied for third place with 11 votes (34.4% each), closely trailed by Umeboshi and Kelp, which both received 10 votes (31.3%). The remaining option Okaka received minimal interest, receiving 1 vote. 3 respondents reported answered none which is expected considering there was 3 people who didn't like onigiri generally.

Graph #3 shows the collected 17 responses explaining why respondents chose their favorite onigiri flavors. The answers highlight a preference for simplicity and taste, with comments like "Tastes amazing," "I like simplicity," and "Simple, tasty." Specific taste profiles are also mentioned, such as the salty flavor of salmon pairing perfectly with rice, or the flavor being "just the right strength" (ちょうどいい味の濃さ) and "moderately rich and sweet" (味が程よく濃くて甘い). 

Graph #4 shows how often onigiri is consumed in a student's daily life. 

Most Common Situations: Onigiri is most frequently enjoyed as a Snack or At school or university, where the combined responses for "Sometimes," "Often," and "Very Often" are at their highest. Lunch also shows a strong preference, with "Sometimes" being the top response.

Least Common Situations: People are least likely to eat onigiri While commuting, While studying, or for Dinner, as these categories received the highest number of "Never" responses.

Balanced Situations: Breakfast and During club activities or sports show a fairly spread-out distribution, though both lean heavily toward "Never" or "Rarely."