The net inflow into the eastern Japan area--Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa--increased 1,911 from the previous year. In 2016, the inflow fell for the first time in five years.
An official of the ministry's Statistics Bureau said that young people aged 15 to 29 accounted for most of the inflow into the greater Tokyo area in 2017, suggesting that the migration of young people to the region continued for university study and work.
Meanwhile, the Osaka and Nagoya areas suffered net population outflows for the fifth consecutive year, with drops of 8,825 and 4,979, respectively.
The Osaka area is composed of the western prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Nara, and the Nagoya area comprises the central prefectures of Gifu, Aichi and Mie.
News On Japan - Nov 26
A 29-year-old man has been arrested for meeting an underage teen girl, with sexual intent, after sending her messages, promising to make her "the happiest in the world".
News On Japan - Nov 25
A JR West Japan train conductor has been arrested for secretly filming eight women in the toilet of the express train "Haruka" while on duty.
NHK - Nov 24
Japanese police are investigating a stabbing incident that took place at a music arena in Yokohama City, south of Tokyo, on Thursday.
News On Japan - Nov 23
In the sidestreets of Tokyo's entertainment district, Kabukicho, known as "To-Yoko," there has been rampant abuse of over-the-counter cough medicine by young people wanting to experience 'overdose', that is, being completely incapacitated.
News On Japan - Nov 23
A wild boar that ran riot in a school in northern Japan on Thursday, smashing windows and frightening students and parents, is still on the loose in a residential area in Sendai, with local police receiving about 20 reports.
News On Japan - Nov 22
The first-ever competition to determine the world's best at trash collection has been held, with representatives from 21 countries gathering in Tokyo.
News On Japan - Nov 22
Streets littered with heaps of garbage, even spilling onto the opposite sidewalks, have become a pressing issue in Kamata, Tokyo, where local eateries line the streets.
NHK - Nov 22
The BBC has included a former member of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force who spoke out about sexual violence within her unit in its annual list of 100 women for 2023.