4-6-2024 (TOKYO) In an unprecedented move to address Japan’s dwindling birth rate, the capital city of Tokyo is set to launch its own dating app as early as this summer, marking a bold step by the government to directly intervene in boosting the nation’s population growth.
The announcement, made by a Tokyo government official on June 4, underscores the urgency with which authorities are approaching the demographic crisis. Users of the app will be required to submit documentation proving their legal marital status as single and sign a letter stating their willingness to get married, ensuring the platform’s singular purpose is facilitating committed relationships.
Recognizing the importance of compatibility, the app will go a step further by mandating that users provide a tax certificate slip to verify their annual income – a practice uncommon on most dating apps but deemed essential by Tokyo officials to foster meaningful connections.
“We learned that 70 percent of people who want to get married aren’t actively joining events or apps to look for a partner,” the Tokyo government official in charge of the new app told AFP. “We want to give them a gentle push to find one.”
While municipalities organizing matchmaking events is not unusual in Japan, where births dropped to a new low in 2023, the development of a dating app by a local government is a rare and innovative approach to addressing the country’s demographic challenges.
To ensure the app’s credibility and authenticity, an interview will be required as part of the registration process to confirm each user’s identity. This added layer of scrutiny aims to foster a safe and trustworthy environment for individuals seeking long-term companionship.
The app’s launch has already sparked a range of reactions on social media, with some users expressing skepticism over the government’s involvement in personal matters, questioning whether such an initiative is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. Others, however, have expressed interest, citing a potential sense of security and reliability stemming from an app endorsed by the local authorities.
Japan’s demographic crisis is undeniable, with the nation recording more than twice as many deaths as new babies last year. Births fell for the eighth consecutive year to 758,631, a drop of 5.1 percent, while the number of deaths stood at a staggering 1,590,503, according to preliminary government data.
Faced with growing labor shortages and an aging population, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised a range of policies aimed at addressing the issue, including financial aid for families, improved access to childcare, and more generous parental leave provisions.
