2017: Japan's Year in Review

Trends and conversation themes differ from country to country, and Japan seems to be one of the major markets that many struggle to figure out. We've collected some of the "tops" and "mosts" on Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LINE as we look back at 2017 in Japan.

Top Searches on Google

1. 小林麻央 (Mao Kobayashi, a former news anchor turned cancer blogger in a country that doesn't often discuss personal issues - she passed away in 2017 and was named one of BBC's 100 Women in 2016)

2. 北朝鮮 (North Korea)

3. ドラクエ11 (Dragon Quest XI video game)

4. 台風 (typhoon)

5. wbc (World Baseball Classic)

Most Popular Facebook Pages

1. Rakuten Ichiba (/RakutenIchiba)

2. ANA Japan (/ana.japan)

3. Japan Airlines (/jal.japan)

4. SoftBank (/SoftBank)

5. Amazon Japan (/AmazonJP)

6. Starbucks Japan (/StarbucksJapan)

7. Coca Cola Japan (/CocaColaPark)

8. Uniqlo (/uniqlo)

9. MUJI (/muji.jp)

10. Tokyo Disney Resort (/tdr.jp)

Most Popular Instagram Accounts

1. Naomi Watanabe (@watanabenaomi703) – 7.4M+

2. Kiko Mizuhara (@i_am_kiko) – 4.8M+

3. Rola (@rolaofficial) – 4.7M+

4. Yukina Kinoshita (@yuuukiiinaaa) – 4.2M+

5. Tasty Japan (@tastyjapan) – 2.9M+

Most Instagrammed Locations

1. Tokyo Disneyland

2. Universal Studios Japan

3. Dotonbori, Osaka

4. Haneda International Airport

5. Tokyo Tower

6. Tokyo Skytree

7. Tokyo Dome

8. Narita International Airport

9. Fushimi Inari Shrine

10. Tokyo Station

Most Popular Hashtags

1. #猫 / #ねこ (cat)

2. #写真好きな人と繋がりたい (I want to connect with people who like photos)

3. #可愛い / #かわいい (cute)

4. #ファインダー越しの私の世界 (My world through the viewfinder)

5. #ハンドメイド (handmade)

6. #写真撮ってる人と繋がりたい (I want to connect with people who take photos)

7. #ランチ (lunch)

8. #ネイル (nails)

9. #ファッション (fashion)

10. #写真 (photo)

Most Used TWITTER Accounts 

1. Net Lab by IT Media (@itm_nlab)

2. Suntory (@suntory)

3. modelpress (@modelpress)

4. Asahi Beer (@asahibeer_jp)

5. Yahoo! News (@YahooNewsTopics)

6. Jalan (@jalannet)

7. UNITED CINEMAS (@UNITED_CINEMAS)

8. livedoor NEWS (@livedoornews)

9. McDonalds Japan fun account (@Love_McD)

10. McDonalds Japan (@McDonaldsJapan)

Most Popular TWITTER Hashtags

1. #モンスト (Monster Strike video game)

2. #乃木坂46 (Nogizaka 46 - girl "idol" group)

3. #fgo (Fate/Grand Order video game)

4. #fatego (Fate/Grand Order video game)

5. #ドラゴンボール (Dragonball)

6. #欅坂46 (Keyakizaka 46 - girl "idol" group)

7. #ドッカンバトル (Dragonball Z Dokkan Battle video game)

8. #ローソン (Lawson convenient store)

9. #わーーーージャニオタさんと繋がるお時間がまいりました (a call out to connect with only true Johnny's - male "idols" - fans and separate from those who aren't or are disliked)

10. #居酒屋 (izakaya)

Most Popular LINE@ Accounts

1. ORBIS (@orbis)

2. eyecity (@eyecity)

3. Coca Cola (@cocacolajapan)

4. J:Com (@jcom)

5. L'Occitane (@loccitane_jp)