Farewell, Tokyo: More residents move out as telework takes hold

Japanese metropolis loses denizens to rest of country for 1st time on record

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Commuters at Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, Japan. The capital seems to be losing its luster during the protracted coronavirus pandemic, especially as teleworking gains popularity and allows people greater flexibility in where they live and work. © Reuters

DAISHI CHIBA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- More people moved out of Tokyo's 23 central wards than moved in last year for the first time since the Japanese government started providing comparable data in 2014, according to a report published Friday by the internal affairs ministry.

Tokyo is Japan's most populous city by far, with its thriving business sector attracting people from all over the country. But the capital seems to be losing its luster during the protracted coronavirus pandemic, especially as teleworking gains popularity, allowing people greater flexibility in where they live and work.

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