For the first time in nine years, more people moved out of Tokyo in December than moved in, suggesting that the ailing economy is beginning to have an affect on population flows, a government report said.
Tokyo saw a net outflow of 73 residents in December as its annual net inflow of residents declined for the first time since 2003, according to the report released by the International Affairs and Communications Ministry on Friday.
Aichi, the central prefecture anchored by the commercial and industrial hub of Nagoya, saw the same trend as it lost 49 people in the month, marking its first net monthly outflow in more than five years.
On an annual basis, however, Tokyo registered a net inflow of 83,000 in 2008, the highest of all 47 prefectures but a decline from the 11,500 who moved in during the previous year. Tokyo was followed by Kanagawa, Chiba and Aichi prefectures, which saw net inflows of between roughly 18,000 and 30,000.
But the biggest yearly outflow was observed in Hokkaido, which lost 21,129 residents in 2008, the highest of all 47 prefectures. Commenting on the report, a ministry official said it was possible that more companies have begun to curb personnel transfers, particularly to large cities.