Singles seek love in Japan’s government courtship service

livemint.com:

OMIYA, Japan—Yurika Adachi, a 39-year-old nurse, grew tired of swiping fruitlessly on dating apps and petitioned local government officials last year to help her find a husband. First, the bureaucrats had a few questions. Adachi filled out an online form and booked an in-person appointment at the Saitama Rendezvous Support Center.

She presented her photo ID to an official to verify her identity and dug out her tax document as proof of income. Adachi went to another office, to obtain a document showing she was indeed single. “I wasn’t bothered," said Adachi of the government rigmarole.

She dreaded meeting one more man whose photo on the dating app looked better than the guy did in person. Japan makes plenty of cars but not enough babies. The nation’s population has been falling since its peak in 2008, falling by more than 800,000 a year.

“If radical action isn’t taken, Japan (and many other countries) will disappear!" Elon Musk posted in alarm on X in June. Because married couples produce 98% of the babies in Japan, local governments have added matchmaking to their list of public services. It cost Adachi about $100 for a two-year plan.

She didn’t need that long. Adachi met a man her age. She said she wasn’t impressed by his photo, but Ri Adachi had a solid job as a systems engineer.

They had lunch and took a long walk through a park. He liked her cheerful smile, and she liked his easygoing conversation. “Even on the first date," she said, “I felt very comfortable with him." People seeking a marriage partner list their hobbies, income and location, among other details.