Tokyo Government to Launch Dating App
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is set to launch a new AI-powered platform that matches citizens in the city.
A new report from Japanese news site JIJI.com reveals that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is currently overseeing the development of a matching platform. The target demographic are over-18s who live, work, or study in the city.
The platform will work in a similar way to privately-owned apps, bringing together like-minded users who share similar values.
However, this state-sponsored platform will have stricter verification requirements than mainstream dating apps. Verification features include checking for proof of singleness, interviews to verify identities, and more, JIJI.com reports.
The platform looks to provide an alternative online dating option for singles who may be concerned about fake profiles on mainstream dating apps. The Tokyo government’s matching app is currently being trialled, with a full launch expected in 2024 after it has collected feedback.
Japan faces issues with a decreasing population, with the total number of citizens falling by 800,000 in 2022. Fumio Kishida, Japan’s Prime Minister, has warned that declining birthrates mean “Japan is standing on the verge of whether we can continue to function as a society”, The Guardian reports.
