The Japanese capital plans to launch its own dating app in early summer next year as part of the government’s efforts to boost the declining national birth rate, a government official said on Tuesday. Users will be required to provide documentation proving they are legally single and sign a statement indicating their desire to marry. While it is common for dating apps in Japan to include income information, Tokyo will require users of the new app to submit a tax certificate to verify their annual salary.
Municipalities often organize events to bring singles together in Japan, where births fell to a new record low in 2023, but it is rare for a local government to develop an app for this purpose. A user interview will be necessary to confirm identity as part of the registration process for the app, which has been available for free testing since late last year.
Many social media users expressed skepticism about the app, with one saying, "Is this something the government should be doing with our taxes?" Others wrote that they are interested in the app, as using it would make them feel safer compared to real-life interactions.
Last year, Japan recorded twice as many deaths as births. Preliminary government data showed that the number of births declined for the eighth consecutive year to 758,631, a decrease of 5.1 percent compared to the previous year, while deaths totaled 1,590,503. The country is facing a growing labor shortage and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised policies that include financial aid for families, easier access to childcare, and increased parental leave.
