Tokyo’s Government Launches New Dating App to Reverse Tumbling Birth Rate

The birth rate in Japan has plunged so low that the government in its biggest city has introduced a dating app to help more couples find love, marry and have children.

Tokyo’s government has allocated $1.28million for the development of the dating app, aiming to launch by the end of the summer according to Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun. The unconventional idea comes as marriage numbers continue to decline in the country, down from 504,930 in 2022 to 474,717 in 2023. The birth rate has also plummeted from 770,759 births in 2022 to 727,277 last year. The number marks an all-time low for Japan. 

The government-sponsored dating app will have unusually strict measures in place to address authenticity concerns, something it has identified as a main concern for those seeking love online and a potential blockade in finding a partner. Before signing up, users will be forced to verify their income, submit a government document to prove they are single, and sit an interview. They must also sign a statement to declare they are looking for marriage. 

In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, a Tokyo official explained that the extensive requirements will help address the issue of fake profiles. 

“We hope that this app, with its association with the government, will provide a sense of security and encourage those who have been hesitant to use traditional apps to take the first step in their search for a partner.”

The government hopes that the strict measures will convince those who have so far been reluctant to use dating apps already available in Japan, including Tinder and Bumble, to give them a go in the name of raising the birth and marriage rates.

“If there are many individuals interested in marriage but unable to find a partner; we want to provide support,” the Tokyo official told The Asahi Shimbun.