Tokyo doubles its matchmaking budget: AI app and singles meet-ups at the zoo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is expanding its public matchmaking programme. According to a report by Japanese broadcaster TBS (JNN) on 26 October, around 700 million yen has been earmarked for fiscal 2026 – more than double the previous year. The three years from 2023 to 2025 together accounted for about 800 million yen. Since fiscal 2023 the city has held 31 matchmaking events with around 3,700 participants in total – including a running meet-up for 60 singles in their 20s to 40s, an event for 400 singles at the Hanayashiki amusement park in Asakusa (2024) and, in July 2026, a meet-up for 200 singles at Ueno Zoo centred on the shoebill enclosure.

At its core is the “TOKYO Enmusubi” app, running since September 2024, which uses artificial intelligence to match people based on a values questionnaire and desired partner qualities. Applicants must submit an official certificate of single status and sign a pledge that they are seeking marriage; according to news agency Qazinform, proof of identity and income are also required, and membership costs 11,000 yen for two years. By the end of September the app had around 17,000 registered users in total, TBS reported. Qazinform reported that as of 30 June, 760 couples were in exclusive relationships and 265 couples had married after meeting on the platform.

Demand appears to be high: the city's events are heavily oversubscribed and it is hard to win a place, a TBS reporter said. Same-day cancellations are also rare, which suggests participants are very serious. Trade outlet Global Dating Insights covered the expansion on 27 October. Whether public matchmaking will lead to more marriages in the long run cannot yet be judged from the figures so far.