On December 5, Yahoo! published the results
of the “Yahoo! Search Award 2023“, showing the people, works and
products that were most searched 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” that took
first place.
The reason for the immense popularity and rapid increase
compared to last year's results was definitely the first episode of the anime
adaptation. In addition, 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 tailored 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 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 can 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 (Freeze: Beyond Journey’s End)
4. Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
5. Kimetsu no Yaiba
Sauce: Oricon News
