Bottom line: Let's cut right to the chase. Japan's population has been declining for nearly a decade, with birth rates hitting a new all-time low of 1.2 children per female in 2023. Officials are concerned, so they've decided to launch a match-making app in hopes of helping people find partners and grow the population.
The Asahi Shimbun, one of the largest newspapers in Japan, said the fee-based app will be operated by a private contractor and is expected to launch sometime this summer. The dating app will feature a robust registration process designed to avoid the pitfalls of more casual dating apps.
For example, users will be required to submit a photo ID and provide proof of income. Applicants must also answer 15 questions relating to their background such as educational and occupation history, submit to an interview with the app's operator, and even sign a statement affirming they are seeking a marriage partner rather than a casual relationship.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike justified the proof of income requirement, claiming it'll help match users and allow them to envision a future together. The strict stance could backfire, especially against men with low incomes.
Saki Ito, who oversees the dating app review website Match Up, said males with lower incomes are less likely to find partners on dating apps, adding that females tend to seek out males with higher incomes. It's no surprise, then, that Ito believes the government would have better luck focusing on policies that boost incomes and encourage marriage through economic incentives.
Dating apps and workplace encounters are among the most common ways for locals to meet, but the online approach can be sketchy. A 2021 survey from Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co. found that six out of 10 dating app users had falsely represented themselves on their dating profile.
A separate survey by the metropolitan government in 2021 noted that more than two-thirds of Tokyo residents interested in marriage aren't actively seeking a partner.
Image credit: Andrey Grushnikov, Masood Aslami