Tokyo allows AI to act as a matchmaker, resulting in hundreds of couples already having gotten married.
Tokyo's government-developed AI matchmaking application has already facilitated 265 marriages to date.
Government-operated dating applications might sound like a concept straight from a policy document, yet Tokyo has gone ahead and created one. The app is effectively transforming AI-based matches into actual marriages (as reported by Tech Xplore).
How does this application function?
In September 2024, the Tokyo government introduced Tokyo Enmusubi, an AI-driven matchmaking app, with a significant goal: addressing Japan's declining birth rate. The initiative stemmed from a survey revealing that approximately 70% of individuals wishing to marry were not actively participating in dating.
To ensure accountability, participants needed to confirm their legal single status and complete an online interview prior to being matched. By June 30, 2026, the app had registered 16,000 members, having filtered down from around 36,000 applicants.
Interestingly, according to government data released this month, 760 couples who connected through the app are now in "serious relationships," and the total number of marriages stands at 265.
One user, known as “Turtle,” shared that she joined the app as a last resort before her 40th birthday, met her now-husband in late August, entered a serious relationship by mid-September, and accepted his proposal by December.
Why is there a need for such an app in Tokyo?
Another user, referring to himself as “Skytree,” attributed his motivation to meet others to the app’s compatibility scoring: “Even if you are uncertain about meeting someone, a high compatibility score can provide the encouragement you need.” The government's rationale for launching the app is tied to Japan's birth rate crisis.
In 2025, births among Japanese nationals plummeted to a record low of 671,236 for the tenth consecutive year. In stark contrast, deaths exceeded that number at over 1.6 million. The fertility rate slightly decreased to 1.14, even as marriages increased.
Beyond the declining birth rate, the unique aspect of a state-owned dating app highlights the urgency of Japan's demographic challenges, pushing policymakers into a realm typically dominated by private tech enterprises.
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Tokyo allows AI to act as a matchmaker, resulting in hundreds of couples already having gotten married.
Since 2024, Tokyo's AI-driven dating app has facilitated 265 marriages, as the city implements a unique government-led solution to combat Japan's declining birth rate crisis.
