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Japan second-most popular country to move to, according to Google Search analysis

39 Comments
By SoraNews24

We recently found that Osaka was considered one of the most livable cities in the world, but it’s fair to say that most places in Japan are pretty swell places to live for many of the same reasons as Osaka.

So perhaps it should come as no surprise that Japan has also been named the second-most popular country to relocate to according to analysis by Australian financial website Compare the Market. This was done by checking the annual search volume of terms like “house in” or “moving to” and each of 182 countries’ names.

Among them all, Canada came out as the clear winner having been the most investigated country to move to in 50 countries worldwide. It seemed especially popular among many African countries as well as China and India. Although a somewhat distant second, Japan still put in a very strong showing by topping searches in 31 countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, Germany, South Korea, and even the number one county Canada.

Here’s the top 10, and the numbers next to the names indicate in how many countries they were the most searched place to move to:

1 – Canada (50)

2 – Japan (31)

3 – Spain (19)

4 – China (15)

5 – France (11)

6 – Tie: Turkey & South Africa (9)

8 – India (7)

9 – Australia (6)

10 – Tie: Greece & Fiji (4)

Many people in Japan were surprised by the results according to the online comments, but many suspect it’s because Japan is such a cheap place to live in today’s inflationary world.

“We don’t understand English, there isn’t much arable land, and frequent earthquakes. If we’re number two I wonder what is happening in other countries.”

“Canada is pretty strong.”

“The Japanese yen is weak and it’s relatively easy to buy real estate from overseas here. I wonder how much is just investors rather than people really moving here.”

“It’s a pretty stable country and cost of living is low. Our culture is good too, if you can get into it.”

“I wonder how far we’ll drop in light of recent events.”

“Too bad Japan isn’t letting so many people in.”

“Canada, please take me in. I promise I will watch hockey.”

Compare the Market accredited the popularity of Japan to its high life expectancy and potential for employment in industries such as automobiles and robotics.

Source: Compare the MarketYurukuyaruMy Game News Flash

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Japanese city makes list of world’s top 10 most livable cities, but not one most people expected

-- Emperors, anime icons, and porn stars show up in six-nation survey of most famous Japanese people

-- Government survey reveals Japanese life expectancy at highest ever, second highest in the world

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

39 Comments
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Having moved here with the family literally as COVID started to explode everywhere in March of 2020 and seeing how bad many parts of the world got hit, then you have this year with inflation just hammering Western countries hard like US and in Europe, I can say that living here has really not been too bad during all this. This is my second time to live in Japan too and that also should say something. I've lived in Spain too and it was beautiful but that was 20 years ago and things have unfortunately changed there quite a bit just like in my country the US, definitely not going back there. Very happy here and looking forward to many more years.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Really?

why?

certainly not with its pay scale nor its cocos response!

-7 ( +11 / -18 )

Interesting. This is according to Google searches... not reality. In reality the US warmly accepts thousands of immigrants and refugees daily and has for many years. Young people in the US are often interested in a move to Japan, and many have tried it, however the reality does not reflect that "Japan is #1". Particularly not at this time, when even sincere and well-prepared visitors are not accepted to visit! Japan, work on this! And yes, I think it'd be grand to welcome more to live in Japan!

-7 ( +11 / -18 )

Bizarre results. Canada at 1 and Japan at 2 are two countries with nothing in common.

And India? Hasn't it experienced a big population net outflow for the last few decades?

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Turkey? Aren't they currently in a huge crisis right now? Extreme high inflation and devaluation of currency?

When was this analysis even taken?

India and China i understand because it has a large population. Is not rare for people to google search these places because of how many of them are living abroad and wishes to one day revisit their home country again.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

And very few people are competent in English

-6 ( +6 / -12 )

Bizarre results. Canada at 1 and Japan at 2 are two countries with nothing in common.

They are both beautiful first-world nations with stable economies, that are safe to live in, and economic potential for migrants. These are the reasons that people migrate.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Many people in Japan were surprised by the results according to the online comments, but many suspect it’s because Japan is such a cheap place to live in today’s inflationary world.

It's because the west has a fascination with Japan. It's known for beautiful place, rich culture, delicious food, polite people, and lots to do. Pretty much everyone I talk to here says they'd like to visit and/or live there for one or more of the above reasons.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

True every place has it's plusses and minuses, you have to decide what's best for you and your family. If you're not from Japan but moved here at some point thinking you would be happy and yet you are still not happy here for whatever reason then why are you still living here? Nobody is going to help you change your situation, only you can make that change for the better.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

however the reality does not reflect that "Japan is #1".

Agree

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

But does this mean that people are actually moving to Japan? Or it this just people searching for information?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

But does this mean that people are actually moving to Japan? Or it this just people searching for information?

The latter. Which could potentially indicate the former, but not necessarily.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I am in disbelief.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

That Japan is number 2 is not surprising, it's that China is number 4

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Ha ha that's funny because only this week Expat Insider released their top 50 best please to move to and Japan was rated at 47th !

In that same survey, New Zealand was ranked at 51st - second to last. For what it's worth.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

2 very different studies.

One is an analysis of Google searches by people looking for places to move to.

One is a survey of people living in those places.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Was there a point to this comment?

Yes

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Clearly Google has a screw loose somewhere because Japan is probably one of the hardest, most uncomfortable and unfriendly places for expats to move to. Everything is just made that much harder and more convoluted by endless amounts of paperwork, unnecessary hoops a non-local has to jump through, restrictions and limitations because you're not Japanese...the list goes on. Unless your company is going to do every single little thing for you to help you settle in, there are much better places to emigrate to.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Something not right here. China at no.4? really? Yeah right I really want to move somewhere with an oppressive government and human rights violations! Not to mention labs leaks and sloppy hygiene...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

China is "more popular to move to" than most of the world (except for Canada, Japan and Spain.)

I'm not 100% convinced about these results LOL

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Something not right here. China at no.4?

It's an economically prosperous nation with a quality comfort of life.

It holds zero interest for me, but I grew up in a poor country with little opportunity, China would hold economic appeal. And while the CCP is authoritarian, many people come from countries with authoritarian governments and/or inept governments, so China wouldn't be a step down in that regards.

Humans have the tendency to judge the actions of others based on their own perceived responses. This is why most people are really bad at understanding the motivations of others.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Clearly Google has a screw loose somewhere because Japan is probably one of the hardest, most uncomfortable and unfriendly places for expats to move to.

You clearly have not moved to many other countries. I have done it multiple times in my life. Japan is definitely one of the easier.

Canada is a nightmare for paperwork. I've been deep in it for the past year. I miss Japan's nice easy system.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

It's an economically prosperous nation with a quality comfort of life.

Re: China. It's ranked at no.77 for quality of life by Numbeo, so maybe before you judge others yourself, you might want to check a few facts?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

People can fail anywhere in the world,but failing in a country,that is foreign too you can be costly,their is no special tickets,that can get you to your home country,but a deportation tickets

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Okay... It's not actually a Google news story, just some home loan website. Totally wrong search methodology. Come on Japan Today! "Google Search analysis"? It should be "Google Search analysis by some idiots who have no idea about data".

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I think its the anime people doing google searches that ran up the numbers

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Nihon is always ichiban! I can't wait for the day that I can go back home!

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

It's a Google search and not a reflection of reality when it comes to where people actually move.

In 2019, Canada welcomed more than 341,000 permanent residents. Canada's population in 2019 was 37.59 million.

In 2018, Japan received 115,000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status). Japan's population in 2018 was 126.5 million. - I just did a quick search and couldn't find #s for 2019.

More than 1 million immigrants arrive in the U.S. each year. In 2018, the top country of origin for new immigrants coming into the U.S. was China, with 149,000 people, followed by India (129,000), Mexico (120,000) and the Philippines (46,000). The US population in 2018 was 326.8 million.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You clearly have not moved to many other countries. I have done it multiple times in my life. Japan is definitely one of the easier.

@Strangerland you couldn't be more wrong. I've moved eleven times in my life to different countries and Japan proved the most unpleasant and annoying when it came to getting things sussed out. Not to mention the blatant discrimination against foreigners. Go to Japan for holiday, sure. Just don't move there to live IMO.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's the power of anime!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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