On December 5th, Yahoo! published the results of the “Yahoo! Search Award 2023“, showing the people, works and products that were most searched for through the service throughout the year 2023 in Japan. To the surprise of few, in the Anime category it was the series “Oshi no Ko” the one that took first position.
The reason for the immense popularity and rapid increase compared to last year’s results was definitely the first episode of the anime adaptation. Furthermore, the popular song “Idol” performed by YOASOBI, which served as the opening theme of the series, also proportionally increased the popularity of the original work.leading to an increase in the volume of related searches.
In Japan, Yahoo! has maintained a significant presence and has been more popular than Google in several areas due to a number of cultural and strategic factors. First, history and time in the Japanese market have played an essential role. Yahoo! Japan, launched in 1996 as a joint venture between Yahoo! and SoftBank, established an early and solid presence in the country.
In addition, the interface and services adapted to the Japanese market have been key. Yahoo! Japan has adapted its services to meet the specific preferences and needs of Japanese users. This includes the presentation of news, localized information and a diverse range of services that go beyond Internet search.
Finally, cultural perception also plays a role. In In some cases, Japanese users may find that the Yahoo! is more intuitive or friendly for your specific needs compared to Google. Cultural preference for familiarity and trust may influence users’ choice.
Continuing with the list, “Blue Lock” took second position, followed by “Sousou no Frieren” which became a trend for its debut episode with a duration of two hours, followed in turn by “Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku” and “Kimetsu no Yaiba“, both projects released this year. The list also included a number of other categories, but they are not relevant to this article.
Most Searched Animes of 2023 in Japan – Yahoo! Search Awards 2023
1. Oshi no Ko
2. Blue Lock
3. Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End)
4. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
5. Kimetsu no Yaiba
Fountain: Oricon News
