New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- Watching anime shows such as Naruto, Pokemon, and Dragon Ball Z since childhood prompted a 31-year-old Canadian man to purchase a property in Yamagata, Japan, in March 2026. Andrew Koller, a freelance camera operator, told Business Insider that his fascination with Japanese culture made him fall in love with the country.

Koller learnt Japanese in 2020 with the help of a private tutor and made his first visit to the Asian country in 2023, which sparked the idea of buying a house there. "I wanted more than just the superficial, surface-level experience of Japanese life," he said.

He wanted to buy a property away from tourist destinations where he could spend more time and build a friendly and healthy relationship wit...