Misleading Profiles Fuel Trouble on Japan’s Dating Apps

Dating apps have surged in popularity in Japan as a primary way to meet potential partners. A fiscal 2024 survey by the Children and Families Agency found that 25.1% of 2,000 married respondents (aged 30s or younger, married in the last five years) met their spouse via a dating app – the highest among options, ahead of workplaces (20.5%), schools (9.9%), and family introductions (9.1%).

However, this rise coincides with increasing reports of deception. A 2024 survey by Tokyo-based marriage support operator Omicale Inc., involving 1,064 respondents aged 20+, revealed that 77.2% (821 people) encountered trouble on dating apps. The top issue for both sexes was “visual misrepresentation” (e.g., outdated or edited photos), but a notable portion reported hidden relationships: 6.8% of women and 3.5% of men said their partner pretended to be single while hiding a spouse or romantic partner.

These misrepresentations have led to serious consequences, including lawsuits. In a December 2025 ruling by the Tokyo District Court, a married man was ordered to pay approximately 1.5 million yen (about $9,800) in damages to a woman he met on a dating app. In another ongoing case, a woman sued a former Saitama District Public Prosecutors Office prosecutor for 5.5 million yen (~$36,000), alleging he hid his marriage during their app-initiated relationship, infringing on her right to chastity.

These incidents highlight broader risks on Japan’s dating platforms, where users may misrepresent marital status for casual encounters or affairs. Some apps, like those backed by local governments, now require verification (e.g., family registry checks) to confirm single status and curb fraud – but some users are naturally opposed to having their dating life tied so heavily into their government data, and those who can bypass those checks will see much less doubt about their supposed relationsip status.