By ISSEI SAKAKIBARA/ Staff Writer
January 31, 2023 at 19:04 JST
The central area of Tokyo on March 8, 2019 (Kazuyoshi Sako)
For the first time in two years, Tokyo’s central area saw more people moving in than those leaving it, thanks to the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions.
There were 21,420 more people who moved into the 23 wards of the capital’s central area in 2022 than those who moved out, according to data released on Jan. 30 by the internal affairs ministry.
“Migration flow into Tokyo grew as COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed,” said a ministry official.
For the entire Tokyo area, the figure stood at 38,023, up 32,590 from 2021. The margin of increase expanded for the first time in three years.
The data indicate a return of the long-term demographic trend from pre-pandemic times of people moving to Tokyo from other parts of the country.
The number of people moving out of the 23 wards began to rise in 2020 when the pandemic began. The area saw a negative migration balance in 2021 for the first time since 2014 when the statistics began to include the number of foreigners.
Ten other prefectures including Kanagawa and Saitama followed Tokyo with the trend. Of those, Miyagi saw more people coming in than going out for the first time in seven years, and Nagano turned its balance positive for the first time since 2014.
But the other 36 prefectures lost residents to other areas, with Hiroshima reporting 9,207 more people leaving than coming in, the largest negative balance.
Tokyo in July sees more people moving out than in due to virus
September 9, 2020
Prices for new condos in Tokyo area at record high for 2nd year
January 27, 2023
VOX POPULI: Japan needs guilt-free time off in event of severe weather
September 10, 2019
Itaewon: An inclusive, multicultural hub hit with tragedy
October 31, 2022
Pandemic-hit Tokyo reports population drop, 1st in 26 years
February 2, 2022
Japan keeps shrinking; Tokyo area population falls for 1st time
August 10, 2022
Visit this page for the latest news on Japan’s battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
The Asahi Shimbun aims “to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” through its Gender Equality Declaration.
Let’s explore the Japanese capital from the viewpoint of wheelchair users and people with disabilities with Barry Joshua Grisdale.
