Analyzing note's #BestPurchasesOf2023 articles. Minimalist living becomes a trend amid rising prices.

note's popular year-end tradition, "#BestPurchases".

Every year, many articles are written about the happy experiences gained from purchases, as well as reviews that only those who have used the products can provide.

We analyzed approximately 6,000 articles written this year. Trends characteristic of 2023, such as rising prices and the resurgence of travel demand, have emerged.

What is "Best Purchases of 2023"?

Since 2018, note has been hosting the hashtag challenge "#BestPurchases". Hashtag challenges are initiatives where note sets a theme to encourage creators to post, providing an opportunity for them to share content and discover new articles.

"#BestPurchases" is a popular theme throughout the year, but it is especially popular at the end of the year as a way for people to look back on their year through their shopping experiences.

2023 purchasing trends influenced by the return to outings and rising prices

The articles written this year showed the impact of rising prices due to global inflation and the increased demand for outings following the reclassification of COVID-19 to a lower-risk category.

Perhaps due to the growing demand to positively enjoy a simple life despite rising prices, articles about minimalist living were particularly well-read, with page views increasing by approximately two times compared to last year.

There were 6,131 posts with the "#BestPurchases" hashtag as of mid-December. The average "Like" rate per article reached 24%, the highest in the past five years.

This may be because "#BestPurchases" articles are often written with great enthusiasm and are highly engaging, with readers using them as references for their own shopping.

Categories with the most posts

As in previous years, "Gadgets" ranked first, with posts related to remote work items accounting for the majority. Additionally, the "Home" category rose from 4th place last year to 2nd. Product introductions by minimalists, driven by the impact of rising prices, were popular. "Fashion" remained in 3rd place, and "Beauty" rose to 4th.

Growing attention to minimalist living

In 2023, as the wave of rising prices hit, the number of posts related to minimalism, which favors a simple life, increased by about 1.5 times, and page views increased by about 2 times compared to last year.

Even in situations where saving money is necessary, there was an increased need to focus on what is truly necessary or what one loves, and to enjoy life creatively.

Travel items are also kept to a minimum!

With more people traveling due to the return to outings, articles introducing convenient travel items also became popular. A trend toward pursuing compactness and lightweight designs was observed in items such as storage solutions and gadgets.

Prioritizing quality in home cooking

While 2023 saw an increase in dining out, it was also a year where the prices of everything rose due to inflation. Even amidst this, articles stood out that introduced items to improve QOL (Quality of Life) by focusing on higher quality without spending too much money or effort on the basics of daily life, as well as articles comparing quality.

Perfecting remote work even further

In 2023, the fourth year of the COVID-19 pandemic, articles introducing favorite products found after carefully examining each item—a result of long experience with remote work environments—were popular.

We also saw stories about people paying for workspaces such as coworking spaces.

On the "#BestPurchases" page, you can read other reviews and stories about various products people were glad they bought. Please take a look.

And if you have anything you were glad you bought this year, please try writing about it. It will surely be helpful to someone!

Survey Overview

• Survey period: January 1, 2023 (Sun) - December 13, 2023 (Wed)

• Survey subjects: 6,131 articles posted to note during the period with the "#BestPurchases" hashtag and related hashtags

• Analysis method

  • Quantitative and qualitative analysis using note post data; data collection on target categories

  • Picking up articles based on hashtags

  • Classification and summary organization of the above results