Tokyo Plans Dating App Rollout Amid Population Slide
In a rare initiative by a local government in Japan, Tokyo is launching a fee-based dating app this summer to boost marriage rates and combat low birth rates. Tokyo has allocated 200M yen ($1.2M) for this app and other matchmaking efforts....
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Facts
- In a rare initiative by a local government in Japan, Tokyo is launching a fee-based dating app this summer to boost marriage rates and combat low birth rates. Tokyo has allocated 200M yen ($1.2M) for this app and other matchmaking efforts.1
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials Tuesday said app users must prove their single status, willingness to marry, and annual incomes via a tax certificate. Approval is also contingent on an interview to prove the user's identity.2
- Officials said these protocols provide users with a secure and supportive environment — especially for those who are otherwise hesitant to use traditional dating apps.3
- The app will also reportedly ask more than 100 questions to make matches based on the data collected from the responses of users.4
- Other Japanese localities like Miyazaki and Kyoto have used matchmaking apps and virtual events to boost marriage rates, with Kyoto reportedly leveraging Meta's metaverse for virtual meet-ups.5
- This comes as Japan has endured approximately 10 years of population decline. In 2023, birth rates experienced a historic low of 1.2 children per female, and, in 2021, 66% of surveyed Tokyo residents said they had no interest in marriage or seeking a partner. The app is reportedly a reaction from local officials about these trends.6
Sources: 1The Asahi Shimbun, 2The Japan Times, 3Tokyo Weekender, 4The Sydney Morning Herald, 5Nikkei Asia and 6TechSpot.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by The Manila Times. Japan's birth rate hit a record low for the eighth consecutive year in 2023 at 1.20 — far below the 2.1 needed for demographic stability. Economic stress and work-life balance challenges are contributing factors. With the world's oldest population, Japan is enhancing parental support through financial aid, childcare access, and expanded parental leave. The Tokyo city government's dating app plan is an urgent attempt to address a serious population crunch.
- Narrative B, as provided by New York Times. Japan's low birth rates, like in other nations such as China and South Korea, are a result of rising longevity and personal freedoms, besides economic factors. Japan's aging population and shrinking workforce present challenges, yet its emphasis on education, health, and women's empowerment reflects progress. Population decline may ultimately reduce ecological footprints and promote peace — requiring adaptable and thoughtful policies over ones driven by demographic panic.
