The migration of Japanese people to Malaysia through a second-home scheme has been declining in recent years after hitting a peak following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in northeastern Japan.

The number of Japanese immigrants under the "Malaysia My Second Home Program," or MM2H, peaked at 816 in 2012. But it has since gradually decreased, reaching around 200 this year, the same level as before 2011, due in part to a lack of promotional efforts, Sharifah Ikhlas, senior assistant director for the program, told NNA.

Malaysia has topped the list of countries favored by Japanese for a long stay for 11 straight years, according to Japan's All Nippon Airways Co., because of lower living costs and warm weather throughout the year in addition to some tax privileges under MM2H benefiting those with qualified visa status.

The accumulated number of Japanese immigrants approved under the program stood at 4,295 at the end of June this year. They were exceeded only by the 9,280 Chinese immigrants, according to Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

"We had seen a surge in visa applications as people wanted to escape from risks (associated with the nuclear disaster) in addition to a property investment boom in Malaysia prompted by the higher yen," said Naoki Nakamura, director of N.S. Vision Marketing Sdn. Bhd., an officially appointed agent for MM2H.

The drop in recent years stems from fading fears surrounding the nuclear crisis as well, Nakamura added.

Sharifah also pointed to a significant reduction in Malaysia's promotional budget for the program, the negative impact on the country's image of incidents such as the disappearance of Malaysian Airline flight MH370 in 2014, and a heightened terrorist threat.

In a bid to draw more Japanese under the scheme, the ministry is now "collaborating with a number of Japanese firms and nongovernmental organizations" for publicity such as seminars and media advertisements.

Japanese immigrants aged 50 or older account for 55 percent of the total under the program, Sharifah said. "Overseas long stays can be one of the ideal options for their second life."

Kaoru Tsujimoto, 53, moved from Osaka in western Japan to Malaysia with her husband in July 2014. The country's perpetual summer is "not as hot as in Japan," she said, adding that she enjoys the cultural, racial and linguistic diversity.

Her husband, Masami Tsujimoto, 58, bought an apartment in Putrajaya, a new administrative capital under development south of Kuala Lumpur, and plays golf more often than he did in Japan. The city provides a better living environment with rich greenery and poses less of a security concern compared with elsewhere in the world, he said. (NNA/Kyodo)