Sharp Increase in 20s in Japan Seeking Marriage Agencies... "Tired of Dating Apps"

Number of Subscribers Last Year Up 4.7% YoY
Reflecting 20s' Traits Seeking 'Efficiency Per Time'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] It has been revealed that the number of people in their 20s seeking marriage information companies in Japan is significantly increasing. The composition is diverse, ranging from those who feel fatigued by meetings through applications (apps) to those who have no dating experience at all and turn to agencies.

Japanese media analyzed this as a phenomenon reflecting the characteristics of Japanese people in their 20s who want to avoid meetings with close groups such as affiliated circles but also dislike spending time on superficial conversations with strangers.

On the 19th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported, citing a report from the Japan Marriage Counseling Federation, that an analysis of member trends from about 3,500 member marriage information companies showed that the number of registered members from January to October last year increased 4.7 times compared to the same period the previous year.

The matchmaking method introduced by the Japanese marriage information company IBJ. It is explained that matching is done freely within the affiliated companies. (Photo by IBJ)

Nikkei mentioned that most of these people had experience using "marriage activity apps" aimed at meeting for marriage, and the fatigue of having to continue contacting others to arrange meetings through the app led people in their 20s to turn to marriage information companies.

This is also related to the characteristics of Japanese people in their 20s and 30s. Recently in Japan, "Taipa," an abbreviation of "time performance," referring to high efficiency relative to time, has become popular. Nikkei added, "Users think that exchanging superficial conversations and spending time exchanging contacts on apps is inefficient in terms of time."

Users also told Nikkei that since the agency arranges the time and place for the first meeting and if they are not interested, they can refuse through the counseling office, it is more time-efficient. Although it costs money, they argue that they can use their time more meaningfully.

The survey results support this. In a survey conducted last year by Tameniga, the company operating the marriage information company "Partner Agent," more than 80% of members in their 20s had experience using apps, and one in three answered that they came to the marriage information company because they "wanted quick results."

Moreover, as the agencies also assist "motae solo" (people with no dating experience), the number of people seeking marriage information companies is increasing further. Earlier, the Cabinet Office's Gender Equality Bureau in Japan released the "Gender Equality White Paper" in August, where 40% of Japanese men answered "none at all" to the question "How many people have you dated so far?" and about 25% of women in their 20s also answered none, which became a topic of discussion.

A 29-year-old male office worker currently receiving counseling told Nikkei, "I have no dating experience, but it was good to be able to consult on how to proceed with marriage activities and how to date."

Ochiai Ayumu, director of Recruit Bridal General Association, analyzed the reason for this phenomenon in Japan, saying, "Young Japanese tend to avoid dating within the same community because they care about relationships after breakups."