AI-Powered Dating App in Tokyo Sparks 265 Marriages, Offering a Glimmer of Hope for Japan’s Birth Rate Crisis
Tokyo’s government-run AI dating app has already produced 265 marriages, according to official figures released this month — a modest but encouraging sign as Japan struggles with a deepening demographic crisis.
The platform, named Tokyo Enmusubi, went live in September 2024 after a government survey found that roughly 70% of people who said they wanted to get married were not actively looking for a partner. To ensure only serious participants joined, applicants had to prove they were legally single, pass an online interview, and meet other criteria.
As of June 30 this year, the app had 16,000 registered members — winnowed from around 36,000 applicants — and 760 couples reported being in “serious relationships.” Among them, 265 had tied the knot. That success rate, while still small compared to the broader population, has drawn attention from policymakers looking for creative ways to boost marriage and eventually birth rates.
Japan recorded a record low of 671,236 births in 2025, the 10th straight annual decline. Deaths more than doubled that figure at 1.6 million, and the total fertility rate edged down to 1.14, far below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. Although the number of marriages inched higher, experts say far more aggressive interventions are needed.
Users of the app described how the AI system helped overcome their hesitation. One woman, who went by the pseudonym “Turtle,” said she tried the platform “as a last chance” as she neared her 40th birthday. “After several blind dates, I met my current husband at the end of August, and we started a serious relationship in mid-September,” she said. “I accepted his proposal at the end of December.”
Another user, “Skytree,” said the app displayed compatibility ratings in three stages. “The AI showed your compatibility with the people it introduces to you… even if you are unsure whether to meet someone, a high compatibility rating will give you the encouragement you need.” He added, “My girlfriend’s AI compatibility rating was perfect.”
Tokyo’s experiment is part of a broader push by local and national governments to reverse the demographic slide. The app’s relatively strict vetting process — requiring proof of single status and an online interview — has been credited with keeping out casual users and focusing on those genuinely seeking marriage. Critics, however, note that matchmaking alone cannot address deeper structural issues such as high living costs, long working hours, and a lack of childcare support that deter young Japanese from forming families.
Still, for the 265 couples who have already married through the platform, the AI-powered matchmaker has delivered results that eluded traditional dating services. Whether the approach can scale to meaningfully move the national birth rate remains an open question — but for now, Tokyo officials are calling it a promising start.