In Japan, The Young Find Dating So Hard Their Parents Are Doing It For Them (PHOTOS)

In Japan, The Young Find Dating So Hard Their Parents Are Doing It For Them (PHOTOS)

In Osaka, Japan, around 60 men and women gather for a unique matchmaking session called “omiai,” where parents seek partners for their grown-up, still single children. Parents pay 14,000 yen ($96) to attend these events, hoping to find suitable matches for their unmarried sons and daughters.

With Japan facing declining marriage and birth rates, many parents are concerned about the prospects of having grandchildren. Economic factors, such as poor employment prospects and long working hours, contribute to the decline in marriages, making matchmaking by parents an appealing alternative for some families.

Few participants talk about their favorite hobbies, movies, or restaurants; instead, they focus on their adult children’s profiles and preferences. Parents attend these events to connect with others in similar situations, hoping to find suitable matches for their single children.

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The demographics of Japan have been significantly affected by the declining marriage and birth rates. In 2021, newly registered marriages reached their lowest point since World War II, with just half the number recorded in the 1970s. The median age for marriage has also increased, further reducing the window for having children.

These demographic challenges pose economic and social problems for Japan. The government has introduced incentives to boost the birth rate, but experts believe that increasing the marriage rate is crucial. Economic factors, such as stagnant wages and high living costs, contribute to the reluctance to marry and start families.

Despite legal equality between men and women, traditional gender roles persist in Japan, with married women often expected to prioritize caregiving over careers. This cultural norm can discourage women from pursuing marriage and parenthood.

Matchmaking events like “omiai” offer parents an opportunity to play a more active role in finding partners for their children. While the success rate of these events is modest, some parents have found suitable matches for their offspring, often emphasizing the importance of children’s willingness to participate in the process.

In summary, declining marriage and birth rates in Japan have led to unique matchmaking events where parents seek partners for their single adult children. Economic challenges, cultural norms, and a desire for grandchildren drive parents to participate in these events, hoping to find suitable matches and reverse demographic trends.

See photos below;

Parents take part in a matchmaking session for their grown-up children organised by the Association of Parents of Marriage Proposal Information in Osaka on July 19. Junko Fukutome/CNN

A couple photographs cherry blossoms in Roppongi district of Tokyo on March 29, 2023. Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images

A couple poses for a wedding photograph near blossoming cherry trees in the Yonomori area of Fukushima, Japan, on April 2, 2023. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images

A bride and groom take part in a wedding ceremony at Hie Shrine in central Tokyo on November 3, 2022. Richard A. Brooks/AFP/Getty Images