Where people studied and where they live Three-layer layout

From top to bottom, the layers show high school, the university or graduate school of highest education, and residence at the time of the survey. Each prefecture is aligned vertically across the layers. Vertical lines connect the same prefecture; diagonal lines connect different prefectures. Prefectures follow code order around each ring; distances are not geographical.

Selecting high school and university prefectures filters all three locations to respondents with that combination. Circle sizes give an approximate sense of their counts; neither area nor volume is proportional to count. Hover over or tap a circle to see the exact count.

Lines show counts for each pair of locations in adjacent layers. Setting a minimum hides only lines below that count. Circles and respondent totals stay the same; a hidden line does not necessarily mean there is no connection.

The diagram includes respondents whose highest education is university or graduate school and whose high school, institution of highest education and current residence are all identified within Japan’s 47 prefectures. For graduate school alumni, the institution may be in a different location from their undergraduate university.

Differences in respondent counts and composition between 2016 and 2025 are not adjusted. Age is measured at each survey. These are not comparisons tracking the same individuals. The three locations do not reveal complete migration histories or future returns.

Source: Japan’s Cabinet Office, e-CSTI human resources analysis and open data (Japanese) / Prepared by Rokugeisha