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Happiness and Liveability Rankings 2025 in Fukushima

Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd., headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo and led by CEO Kei Takeuchi, recently conducted one of the most extensive surveys on residential satisfaction in Japan. This survey culminated in the Eheya Net Happiness Ranking 2025 (Fukushima Edition) and the Eheya Net Liveability Ranking 2025 (Fukushima Edition). Below are the highlights from the rankings.

Happiness Ranking Insights

1. Top Cities for Happiness
- 1st Place: Ishikawa-machi, Ishikawa-gun
- 2nd Place: Aizumisato-machi, Onuma-gun
- 3rd Place: Koori-machi, Date-gun

Ishikawa-machi has made a remarkable leap from last year’s 4th place to the top spot this year, reflecting significant improvements in residents' overall happiness. Aizumisato-machi, which jumped from 7th to 2nd, along with Koori-machi, noted for having the highest ‘livability’ rating, reflects a trend where rural towns are rising in popularity among residents. Additionally, Sukagawa-shi has emerged in the top 10, moving up from 14th to 10th place this year.

The Happiness Ranking compiles data from 2021 to 2025, including responses from previous years if the number of respondents was below 50 in any jurisdiction. The scores are normalized to average at 50, allowing for comparison—indicating that while some towns excel, even small differences matter in rankings.

Liveability Ranking Insights

1. Top Cities for Liveability
- 1st Place: Koori-machi, Date-gun
- 2nd Place: Sukagawa-shi (consistently ranked for four years)
- 3rd Place: Kagamiishi-machi, Iwase-gun

Koori-machi climbed from 3rd place in 2024 to 1st this year, achieving an impressive rating in the 70s, marking it as the only city in that range. Sukagawa-shi continues its reign for the fourth consecutive year, while Kagamiishi-machi holds the 3rd position, indicating strong community attachment. New entries such as Ishikawa-machi in the 4th spot and Aizumisato-machi at 9th are noteworthy despite previous ranking challenges due to low response rates.

The Liveability Ranking for towns incorporates the same timeframe as the Happiness ranking, with additional data from 2020 when necessary. The methodology allows insights into community pride and attachment, showcasing cities that thrive in resident satisfaction.

Additional Observations

Among other noteworthy mentions, Aizuwakamatsu City ranked second in residents' pride in their community. This reflects a broader trend in which local identity and pride are becoming increasingly important drivers of happiness in urban settings.

Survey Methodology

The data were collected through an online survey conducted by Macromill, targeting residents in Fukushima aged 20 and above between 2021 and 2025, comprising a total of 10,805 participants. The demographic breakdown reveals a fairly even distribution between genders, and a healthy mix of married and unmarried individuals. The survey ran from February 21 to March 10, 2025, capturing a snapshot of resident sentiments during these periods.

Method of Evaluation

Participants rated overall happiness on a scale from 1 (very unhappy) to 10 (very happy), with scores converted into a 100-point system for rankings. The liveability rankings similarly assessed ongoing desire to stay in a particular area, further evaluating local pride and emotional attachment to the community.

For further details, visit the liveability ranking website where additional academic insights and data analyses are available.

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