Reviews and Official Data: How to Read Them Separately
Third-party ratings can indicate sentiment trends, but they do not replace official data on hours, pricing, and eligibility. Before comparing across platforms or months, align the time window and comparison dimensions.
First, check official data
Do not decide whether to contact a shop based only on review scores. Use ratings to prioritise follow-up, not as a substitute for official data checks.
Only give more weight to recurring themes
One positive or negative comment is not enough for a conclusion. Repeated claims also require checks for copying, repeat authors, and different dates or conditions. Without independent, traceable sources, they do not establish a majority view or turn allegations into facts.
Do not mix platforms as one metric
Review systems differ by platform (anonymity, moderation, sample composition). Compare within each system first, then look for common patterns across systems.
Translate to actionable user outcomes
Regardless of score, output actions: verify official data first, send a concise Japanese confirmation, or switch the candidate shop. That is more usable than “popular/unpopular” alone.