Against a backdrop of plummeting birth rates and a rapidly aging population that has put Japan’s social and economic stability on high alert, an artificial intelligence-driven matchmaking initiative launched by the Tokyo metropolitan government has notched its first measurable success: 265 couples have tied the knot after meeting through the government-backed app.
Named TOKYO Enmusubi — a word rooted in Japanese tradition that refers to the fated connection between marriage partners — the platform went live in September 2024. The initiative was developed in response to pre-launch survey data that revealed a striking barrier to rising marriage rates: nearly 70% of single adults who expressed a desire to wed were not actively pursuing traditional matchmaking or dating opportunities.
To address widespread reluctance to engage with matchmaking and filter for users genuinely committed to marriage, the app implemented strict verification requirements for all new registrants. Applicants must provide official documentation proving they are legally single, complete a structured online interview, and meet additional eligibility criteria. This vetting process cut the initial pool of roughly 36,000 applicants down to 16,000 active registered members as of June 30, 2025, according to official government data released earlier this month. Beyond the 265 marriages already formalized, the data also shows 760 additional couples are currently in committed, serious relationships through the platform.
For many users, the app represented a final opportunity to find a partner after years of unsuccessful traditional dating. One user, who go by the pseudonym “Turtle”, explained she joined the platform as she approached her 40th birthday, having grown discouraged after a string of unproductive blind dates. “After going on several blind dates, I met my current husband at the end of August, and we started a serious relationship in mid-September,” she shared. “I accepted his proposal at the end of December.”
Another user, going by the name “Skytree”, highlighted the unique value the AI tool brings to hesitant daters. Unlike traditional dating apps that leave users to sort through matches on their own, the platform ranks compatibility between potential partners in three clear tiers. “The AI showed your compatibility with the people it introduces to you in three stages, so even if you are unsure whether to meet someone, a high compatibility rating will give you the encouragement you need,” he said. “My girlfriend’s AI compatibility rating was perfect,” he added.
The launch of this AI matchmaking scheme comes as Japan faces one of the most severe population crises in the world. Just last June, official government data confirmed that the number of live births to Japanese nationals hit a new all-time low of 671,236 in 2025, marking the 10th consecutive year that birth rates have fallen. Annual deaths outpaced births by more than double, hitting 1.6 million in 2025. While the total number of marriages rose slightly over the past year, the national fertility rate still edged down 0.01 percentage points to 1.14, far below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain a stable population, according to figures from Japan’s Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry.