Regional surveys show varying levels of local attachment in Japan

Recent surveys in Japan reveal contrasting trends regarding regional identity and local industry awareness. In Fukushima Prefecture, a study by the Toho Regional Research Institute involving approximately 10,000 high school sophomores found that 31.5% of respondents knew of zero local companies. This represents a 4-percentage-point increase from the previous 2025 survey. Despite this lack of corporate awareness, attachment to Fukushima remains high, with 80.8% of students expressing some level of affection for the prefecture.

In contrast, a “Gotochi Survey 2026” by the Jalan Research Center highlights exceptionally high regional pride in Ishikawa Prefecture. Residents of Ishikawa reported an 86.0% attachment rate to their prefecture, ranking second nationally behind Hokkaido. Ishikawa residents also ranked third in the country for wanting people from other prefectures to visit their home, with a 77.1% response rate.