Tokyo Municipality Launches App to Encourage Marriage and Childbearing

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has initiated a new project called "Tokyo Futari Story" aimed at bringing couples (futari in Japanese) together in a country where "hutari" (meaning living alone) has become increasingly common. Currently, the Tokyo municipality has a website that provides general information and advice to those interested in finding a life partner. Additionally, they are developing an application to facilitate meetings and introductions for interested couples. A Tokyo municipal official expressed hope on Thursday, June 7, that this app will be available online and via mobile by the end of this year. The details of how this app will work are still unclear. Japanese media reported that those interested in using this app must register their identity by providing documents such as a driver's license, submit tax forms to verify income, and sign a questionnaire guaranteeing their readiness for marriage. Tokyo municipal officials have refrained from commenting on these points. The marriage rate in Japan is declining, and according to statistics from the Ministry of Health released on Wednesday, the birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in Japan's history. The number of marriages, which was about 505,000 in 2022, dropped to about 475,000 last year, while the number of births decreased from around 771,000 to 727,000 in the same period. Japanese media reported that this new app may ask applicants about their height, occupation, and education level, but Tokyo municipal officials state that no decisions have been made regarding these matters. Nationally, the Japanese government has promised to provide financial aid to families with young children and support kindergartens to address the serious labor shortage and encourage women to return to work. Additionally, the government has eased immigration laws in recent years to encourage the entry of foreign labor. In the 1970s, during the baby boom, more than two million children were born annually in Japan. Like many young people in other countries, the desire to marry and have children is declining among the new generation in Japan. Some believe that work laws and traditions force employees to spend long hours at work, leaving young people with little opportunity to meet others. Others argue that the costs of raising children are very high. Meanwhile, the Tokyo municipality is organizing programs for singles to meet each other, couples to receive advice on marriage and cohabitation, and creating songs or cartoon stories about the adventures of lovers' first meetings.