Japan Will Pay Singles to Use Dating Apps! PLEASE HAVE CHILDREN!

Japan will pay singles to use dating apps as part of a new strategy to address the declining birth rate and encourage relationships among young people. The initiative comes from Kochi Prefecture, which announced a subsidy to help cover the costs of dating applications.

Japan Will Pay Singles to Use Dating Apps! PLEASE HAVE CHILDREN!

The local government proposal will pay singles to use dating apps indirectly, offering up to 20,000 yen per year (about 125 dollars) for people aged between 20 and 39. The main goal is not only to encourage dating but also to increase long-term marriage rates.

The subsidy can be used on approved matchmaking apps, covering subscription fees and related costs. According to local authorities, the amount was designed to cover most of the annual fees for these services, reducing the financial barrier for those looking for a partner.

To understand why the government is so concerned, Japan has been facing a significant decline in its birth rate for years, along with a rapidly aging population. Regions far from major urban centers, such as Shikoku Island, are suffering even more from depopulation, making initiatives like this increasingly urgent (although Brazil is also experiencing a growing elderly population, so it is not only Japan).

Interestingly, while the government tries to encourage singles to enter the dating world, some married people also use dating apps, including apps specifically designed for cheating, and some platforms even accept only married users.

Still, the fact that Japan will pay singles to use dating apps gives me the feeling that anime like Koi to Uso could become reality one day. If you have not watched it, Koi to Uso is a romance anime where the government chooses your ideal partner and forces you to stay with that person.

via Sankei