Users must provide documentation confirming their legal single status and agree to a declaration expressing their readiness for marriage.
In an
unusual move, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is set to launch its own dating
app aimed at promoting marriage and addressing the declining national
birthrate, as reported by Independent. Managed by a private entrepreneur, this
forthcoming paid application is slated for release this summer.
Prospective
users will need to furnish documentation verifying their legal single status
and commit to a declaration expressing their openness to marriage.
Additionally, users will be required to supply a tax certificate as proof of
their annual income.
As part of
the registration process, applicants will undergo an interview to verify their
identity. The app, which has undergone free testing since late last year, will
prompt users to specify the "values" they prioritize in a partner. AI
algorithms will then facilitate matches based on compatible values.
A Tokyo
government official overseeing the app expressed, "We learned that 70
percent of people interested in marriage aren't actively engaging with events
or apps to find a partner. We aim to nudge them towards this pursuit."
Another official emphasized the app's role in supporting individuals struggling
to find a partner, hoping it will instill confidence in those hesitant to use
traditional dating platforms.
Elon Musk,
owner of X and CEO of SpaceX, commended Japan's initiative, affirming its
recognition of the significance of addressing declining birth rates. Musk has
previously advocated for raising birth rates to counteract aging populations.
In 2023,
Japan recorded over twice as many deaths as new births, with births declining
for the eighth consecutive year to 758,631. Financial constraints are
frequently cited as a primary reason for Japanese individuals remaining single.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has described the declining birth rate as the country's
"most serious crisis" and emphasized the urgency of addressing it.