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Global Love Report – August 19th, 2026
English summary by Margaret
Naresome Research Institute, part of Naresome Co., Ltd., a Japan-based matchmaking company, surveyed 144 men aged 20 and older who had experience using dating apps. The study examined how long it takes from meeting a woman through an app to entering a relationship, as well as the number of people they date along the way.
A Long Road to One Relationship
The survey found that the expected time for a man to enter a relationship with one woman he meets through a dating app is 14.3 months, or about 1.2 years.
The length of app use also reveals how difficult the process can be for some users. Among men who had used dating apps for 6 months to less than 1 year, 64.3% had not entered a relationship during that period.
Conversation Skills Stand Out
One of the clearest differences in the survey appeared in respondent’s confidence in their conversation skills.
Men who rated their conversation skills highly, at 7 – 10 out of 10, took an average of 7.6 months to enter a relationship. Those who rated their skills low to moderate, at 1 – 6, took 19.6 months, that’s a 12-month difference.
The lower confidence group also went on more dates, averaging 14.1 people, compared with 9.5 people among those with higher confidence.
This suggests that the challenge may not simply be meeting potential partners. Some men reach the first date but may struggle to keep the connection moving toward a second date or a relationship.
How It Compares With IBJ
The results provide an interesting point of comparison with IBJ, a matchmaking agency based in Japan.
According to the 2025 IBJ Seikon Hakusho report, the median time registered members who successfully reached seikon (engagement) spent in the matchmaking service was 276 days, or about nine months. The median dating period was 125 days, or about four months.
The figures are not a direct comparison because the two studies measure different outcomes. The Naresome survey looks at the average time to enter a relationship through dating apps, while IBJ’s data concerns members who reached seikon.
Even with that difference, the figures highlight how the process can vary between open dating apps and matchmaking services centered on marriage.
The Role of the Dating Environment
Relationship psychologist Keita Yamazaki, who has conducted more than 1,000 counseling sessions at Naresome Yobiko, said dating apps place much of the responsibility for evaluating potential partners on the individual.
He pointed to two challenges: some users may not be truthful, and people’s desire to marry can vary widely. As a result, matching with someone does not necessarily indicate whether the relationship will lead to marriage.
For people with marriage as a clear goal, Yamazaki said the choice of dating environment can affect the process. Some may choose to handle everything independently, while others may prefer a setting designed around marriage with support throughout the process. He emphasized understanding one’s own strengths and challenges when choosing between those environments.
Originally published by: PR TIMES
