Last year, the number of consultations on immigration received by municipalities across the country reached a record high of over 320,000.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications believes that the background is the growing interest in moving to rural areas due to the corona disaster.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, about 324,000 consultations on immigration were sent to prefectural and municipal offices last fiscal year.
This is an increase of more than 32,000 cases from the previous fiscal year, the highest number since 2015, when statistics began to be collected.
Looking at it by prefecture, Nagano Prefecture has the most cases, with 17,443 cases, and it has been the top for seven years in a row since we started collecting statistics.
Next, Hyogo Prefecture has 15,245 cases, Fukushima Prefecture has 13,599 cases, Hokkaido has 12,650 cases, and Ishikawa Prefecture has 12,570 cases.
Hirotaka Ito, head of the Nagano Prefectural Shinshu Life Promotion Division, said, "In addition to the advantages of good access from the Tokyo metropolitan area and the abundance of nature, telework has spread due to the corona crisis, making it possible to 'migrate without changing jobs.' I would like to continue to spread the charm of the city through seminars and the like."
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications believes that the heightened interest in relocating to rural areas due to the corona crisis may be behind it, and in cooperation with local governments, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will continue to implement detailed support measures, such as enhancing consultation desks and living support at the relocation destination. I want to