SAPPORO, Apr 11 (News On Japan) –
Obihiro City, the fifth-largest metropolis in Hokkaido, noticed its inhabitants dip under 160,000 for the primary time in 41 years, and the pattern extends throughout the area, with the entire prime 5 cities, together with Sapporo, recording inhabitants declines in comparison with the earlier month, underscoring the continued demographic challenges going through Hokkaido.
“It’s a little sad. Even when I come to the station, it feels like there are fewer people than before,” stated one native resident. Another remarked, “Isn’t it the same in every town?”
According to the town’s resident registry, Obihiro’s inhabitants decreased by 617 folks from February to 159,863 on the finish of March, marking the primary time since 1983 that it has fallen under 160,000.
The metropolis peaked at 175,174 residents in 2001, however has been steadily dropping inhabitants since. The decline is attributed to each a “natural decrease,” the place the variety of deaths outpaces births, and a “social decrease,” during which extra folks transfer out than transfer in.
Source: Hokkaido News UHB