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9 Int'l J. Soc. Sci. Stud. 104 (2021)
Linkage between ABO Blood Type and Occupation: Evidence from Japanese Politicians and Athletes

handle is hein.journals/ijsoctu9 and id is 446 raw text is: International Journal of Social Science Studies Fam e Vol. 9, No. 5; September 2021 ISSN 2324-8033 E-ISSN 2324-8041 Published by Redfame Publishing URL: http://ijsss.redfame.com Linkage between ABO Blood Type and Occupation: Evidence from Japanese Politicians and Athletes Masayuki Kanazawa' 1 Human Sciences ABO Center, Tokyo, Japan Correspondence: Masayuki Kanazawa, Human Sciences ABO Center, Tokyo, Japan. Received: July 5, 2021 Accepted: August 9, 2021 Available online: August 17, 2021 doi:10.11114/ijsss.v9i5.5282 URL: https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v9i5.5282 Abstract In Asian countries, e.g., Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan, many studies on the relationship between ABO blood type and personality have been conducted. Recently, it has been estimated that more than half of Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese people feel that this relationship is legitimate. Therefore, when data from these countries are used in personality tests, it is theoretically difficult to eliminate the effects of the contamination of knowledge, even if differences are found. To avoid this issue, this study examined the linkage between ABO blood type and occupations in Japan. The results showed that personality traits corresponding to blood type appeared in the data of each of the three groups of politicians and athletes, and all differences were statistically significant. We observed a clear and significant relationship between blood type and personality. Additionally, it is also necessary to consider the influence of social background. Keywords: ABO blood type, personality, occupation, politician, athlete 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Currently, the effect of genetic factors on personality is estimated to be approximately 50% (Ando et al., 2004; Gerra et al., 2000; Keller et al., 2005). The ABO blood type, discovered by Landsteiner in 1901, is a genetically determined and easily measured biological marker. Hence, much research has been conducted not only on health risks, but also on its impact on personality. In Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, roughly half of the populations feel the relationship between blood type and personality is legitimate (Cho et al., 2005; Kamise & Matsui, 1994; Sato & Watanabe, 1992; Wu, et al., 2005; Yamaoka, 2009). Presently, more than half of the Japanese population believes in the relationship between blood type and personality. For example, in an online questionnaire conducted in 2015 by Fuji Television Networks, one of the major television networks in Japan, 68.7% of the 201,119 respondents believed in the relationship (Fuji Television Networks, 2015). Prior surveys have returned similar results. In a 1986 survey conducted by NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster, 75% of the 1,102 respondents believed in the relationship (NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, 1986). 1.2 Blood Type Personality Theory The relationship between blood type and personality is studied at an international scale, and the first academic examination using statistics as a base was conducted in 1927, by Furukawa, a Japanese educational psychologist (Furukawa, 1927 & 1930; Nawata, 2014; Rogers & Glendon, 2003; Sato & Watanabe, 1992; Wang, 2014; Wu et al., 2005). However, the paradigm that most influences present-day research is from a Japanese book (Nomi, 1971) published in 1971 by Nomi, an independent Japanese researcher (Nawata, 2014; Rogers & Glendon, 2003; Sato & Watanabe, 1992 Wang, 2014). Nomi's research (Table 1) further developed Furukawa's theory. He adopted the multiple method approach, which consisted of questionnaires on the traits of people's behavior and mindset, surveys of blood type distribution for various occupations and groups, and observations and statistical analyses of human behavior. The sample sizes of these studies were claimed to be tens of thousands in total. He also suggested an association with disease and physical constitution (Nomi, 1978). 104

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