The object of this research is to survey the usage of loanwords in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture and to clarify the usage and consciousness of loanwords in Japan, focusing on demographics.
In the results of the Kesennuma survey, it has become clear that there exists a generation/gender based gap in the consciousness of loanwords. Also, since most of the participants answered with multiple word forms for each question, the combination patterns of native Japanese words and loanwords in the answers could be examined. Overall, it has become apparent that a shift is occurring in the usage of native Japanese words, and they are gradually being replaced by loanwords. Furthermore, the gap in combination patterns of native/loanwords between generation and gender has also become clear.