Finding Love in Japan: Japanese turn to matchmaking services for companionship

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In Japan, an increasing number of people are turning to online matchmaking services to find love. CGTN's Terrence Terashima has more.

According to a recent government survey, Japan's marriage rate has declined to an all-time low. The report says men and women in Japan are struggling to find partners for a variety of reasons from economic concerns to changing views on marriage partners.

Many women, in particular, are wary about losing their freedom and careers after they get married by becoming full-time housewives.

TERRENCE TERASHIMA TOKYO "Although the Japanese government is pushing social advancements for women, analysts say there's still a wide gap between how men and women view marriage and partnership."

Analysts say nearly half of the single people in Japan who want to get married are unable to find a suitable partner.

JUNYA ISHIBASHI CEO, EUREKAMATCH.COM JAPAN "The traditional ways for the Japanese to meet their partners were mostly at work. However, with the social advancement of women, they now have to balance careers and family carefully and seek different ways to meet their partners away from the workplace."

An increasing number of people in Japan are turning to the internet and social media matchmaking services to find companions.

JUNYA ISHIBASHI CEO, EUREKAMATCH.COM JAPAN "We started our service in October 2012, and in five years, we increased our users to five million, but by 2019, the number of users doubled to 10 million users."

People who use dating services say there are advantages compared to traditional means of meeting a partner.

JUNYA ISHIBASHI CEO, EUREKAMATCH.COM JAPAN "In the real world, you have to take time to get to know a person's interests and personalities. However, with the matching services, you have a head start in knowing about a person. Their profile and shared interests help start communication between potential partners."

And thanks to the speed of technology, a number of Japanese companies are now expanding matching services, using DNA and robots. Terrence Terashima, CGTN, Tokyo.