Contents
Introduction
Despite Japan’s continued use of Yahoo! as a search engine, Google maintains its position as the top choice among users. We’ve written about what Japanese people searched for in Yahoo! JAPAN search engine, and in this article, we’ll delve into the most searched keywords in Japan based on Google.
Google recently unveiled the highly anticipated 2023 Google Search Rankings, providing valuable insights into the search trends and interests of users in Japan. As Google celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, the rankings not only encompassed the overall search trends but also highlighted the most searched terms in various categories, reflecting the diversity of interests among Japanese users.
What did Japanese people search for the most in 2023?
A Year of Sporting Triumphs
Sports Category
- WBC (World Baseball Classic)
- 女子サッカーワールドカップ (FIFA Women’s World Cup)
- ラグビーワールドカップ (Rugby World Cup)
- バスケ ワールドカップ (FIBA Basketball World Cup)
- 井上尚弥 フルトン (Naoya Inoue vs. Fulton)
- バレーボール 男子 (Men’s Volleyball)
- アジア大会 サッカー (Asian Games Soccer)
- 世界水泳 (FINA World Aquatics Championships)
- アジアプロ野球チャンピオンシップ (Asia Professional Baseball Championship)
- 阪神 優勝 (Hanshin Tigers Victory)
The 2023 sports scene in Japan was marked by the excitement of major global events. “WBC,” the World Baseball Classic, claimed the top spot as Samurai Japan triumphed over the United States, securing their third title in three decades. The “Women’s Soccer World Cup” secured the second position, reflecting the nation’s passion for soccer. Other notable mentions include the “Rugby World Cup” and the historic “Basketball World Cup,” where Japan clinched the top spot in Asia, earning a coveted spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Sports Athletes Category: Spotlight on Athletes
- 山川 穂高 (Hotaka Yamakawa)
- ダルビッシュ 有 (Yu Darvish)
- 吉田 正尚 (Masataka Yoshida)
- ラーズ ヌートバー (Lars Nootbaar)
- 栗山 英樹 (Hideki Kuriyama)
- 藤澤 五月 (Satsuki Fujisawa)
- 近藤 健介 (Kensuke Kondo)
- 高橋 藍 (Ai Takahashi)
- 高橋 宏斗 (Hiroto Takahashi)
- 今永 昇太 (Shota Imanaga)
In 2023, one of the most searched sports athletes in Japan on Google is 山川 穂高 (Hotaka Yamakawa), gaining widespread attention in the Sports Athletes category. Another notable athlete capturing the online spotlight is ダルビッシュ 有 (Yu Darvish), whose prowess in the world of baseball continues to draw fans and followers alike.
Surprisingly, 大谷翔平 (Shohei Ohtani), despite his spectacular achievements in the sports world in 2023, is not included in the sports list. He was also awarded the Grand Prize for being the most searched individual at the Yahoo! Search Award 2023.
Examining Google Trends data reveals a substantial search presence for Shohei Ohtani over the past 12 months, prompting questions about the criteria Google employs in determining their Search Rankings and why Ohtani is not prominently featured on the sports-related list.
Personalities: From Actors to Dramas
Personalities Category
- 市川 猿之助 (Ichikawa Ennosuke)
- りゅうちぇる (Ryucheru)
- 広末 涼子 (Ryoko Hirosue)
- 永山 絢斗 (Kento Nagayama)
- 佐藤 めぐみ (Megumi Sato)
- CANDLE JUNE
- 坂本 龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto)
- 中村 倫也 (Tomoya Nakamura)
- 鳥羽 周作 (Shusaku Toba)
- 道端 ジェシカ (Jessica Michibata)
In the realm of personalities and dramas, the top searches included actors like “市川 猿之助 (Ichikawa Ennosuke)” and popular dramas such as “VIVANT” and “どうする家康.” TBS’s Sunday drama “VIVANT” claimed the top spot in the drama category, while the highly anticipated Miyazaki Hayao film, “君たちはどう生きるか” (“How Do You Live?”), took the lead in the movie category.
Drama Category
- VIVANT
- どうする家康 (Dousuru Ieyasu)
- 最高の教師 (Sainou No Kyoushi)
- あなたがしてくれなくても (Anata Ga Shitekuranakutemo)
- 大病院占拠 (Daibyouinsenkyo)
- ブラッシュアップライフ (Brush Up Life)
- 王様に捧ぐ薬指 (The Third Finger offered to a King)
- ペンディングトレイン (Pending Train)
- 真夏のシンデレラ (Midsummer Cinderella)
- 星降る夜に (Hoshifuru Yoru Ni)
Movies and Anime: Miyazaki’s Influence and Animated Hits
Movie Category
- 君たちはどう生きるか (The Boy and the Heron)
- シン・仮面ライダー (Shin Kamen Rider)
- わたしの幸せな結婚 (My Happy Marriage)
- ザ・スーパーマリオブラザーズ・ムービー (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)
- リトル・マーメイド (The Little Mermaid)
- インディ・ジョーンズ (Indiana Jones)
- マイ・エレメント (My Element)
- 怪物 (Monster)
- ジョン・ウィック (John Wick)
- 鬼滅の刃 (Demon Slayer)
The movie category saw “君たちはどう生きるか” (The Boy and the Heron) securing the first position, creating significant anticipation for the latest work by acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki. In the anime category, “【推しの子】” (Oshi no ko) took the lead.
Anime Category
- 【推しの子】 (Oshi No Ko)
- ブルーロック (Blue Lock)
- 薬屋のひとりごと (Kusuri no Hitorigoto)
- 葬送のフリーレン (SouSou No Furīren)
- 地獄楽 (Jigokuraku)
- 山田くんとLv999の恋をする (My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999)
- MFゴースト (MF GHOST)
- ひろがるスカイ！プリキュア (Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure)
- 「鬼滅の刃」刀鍛冶の里編 (Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc)
- シャングリラ・フロンティア (Shangri-La Frontier)
Games and Recipes
Games Category
- スイカゲーム (Watermelon Game)
- ホグワーツ・レガシー (Hogwarts Legacy)
- ゼルダの伝説 ティアーズ オブ ザ キングダム (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
- Pokémon Sleep
- 崩壊：スターレイル (Collapse: Star Rail)
- BLUE PROTOCOL
- FINAL FANTASY XVI
- 漢字でGO! (Kanji de GO!)
- BIOHAZARD RE:4 (Resident Evil 4)
- ディアブロ IV (Diablo IV)
The gaming category highlighted the surge in popularity of the “スイカゲーム” (Watermelon Game), claiming the first position. Culinary enthusiasts showed interest in diverse recipes, with “ゴーヤチャンプル レシピ 人気1位” (Goya Champuru Recipe – Most Popular) topping the list.
Recipes Category
- ゴーヤチャンプル レシピ 人気 1 位 (Bitter Melon Champuru Recipe Popular No. 1)
- きのう何食べた？ レシピ (What Did You Eat Yesterday? Recipes)
- 鶏胸肉 レシピ 人気 1 位 簡単 (Chicken Breast Recipe Popular No. 1 Easy)
- ピーマンの肉詰め レシピ 簡単 (Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe Easy)
- スナップエンドウ 人気 レシピ (Snap Peas Popular Recipes)
- じゃがいも レシピ 簡単 早い (Potato Recipes Easy and Quick)
- ズッキーニ レシピ 簡単 人気 (Zucchini Recipes Easy and Popular)
- コールスロー レシピ 人気 1 位 (Coleslaw Recipe Popular No. 1)
- 月読くんの禁断お夜食 レシピ (Tsukuyomi-kun’s Forbidden Midnight Snack Recipe)
- 親子丼 レシピ 人気 1 位 (Oyakodon Recipe Popular No. 1)
As we bid farewell to 2023, these Google Search Rankings in Japan offer a comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s interests and trends. For businesses aiming to establish a digital presence in Japan, understanding these trends is crucial for effective marketing strategies and engagement with the local audience. If you’re interested to learn more about what keywords Japanese people use to help your keyword research, you may read more here.
Data source: 2024 Google Search Ranking Announced
