Image Source: Aflo
Global Love Report – October 7th, 2026
English summary by Margaret
Matchmaking in Japan has evolved from traditional introductions through family and community networks into a structured business. Singles looking for a life partner can now begin the process in a consultation room rather than at a café or through dating apps. Matchmakers assess how clients communicate, offer advice on appearance and messaging, and help arrange future dates. If the relationship leads to an engagement, clients pay a success fee.
One successful example is IBJ, a Tokyo-based matchmaking company with a network that has expanded across several regions in Japan. Its services include dating simulations, where counselors observe clients and provide feedback, as well as guidance on appearance, conversation, messaging, and dating plans.
When two members are considered compatible, matchmakers from both sides exchange information after the date and help the relationship move toward a proposal. IBJ says its service provides human support to help people get married as soon as possible.
IBJ promises that the process from the first meeting to a proposal can take about three months. Members typically pay $30 to $100 per month, plus a registration fee of $650 to $1,300. If the couple becomes engaged, there is also a success fee of about $1,300.
Why More Singles Are Turning to Matchmaking
Matchmaking has a long history in Japan. For centuries, omiai (traditional Japanese matchmaking custom) involved relatives, friends, or community elders introducing people with marriage in mind. That tradition became less common as people increasingly met through social circles and romantic relationships.
Dating apps later expanded the ways people could meet, allowing users to browse profiles, exchange messages, and connect with potential partners. However, having more choices has not necessarily made dating easier. Some users have become frustrated with ghosting, catfishing, and meeting people who do not share their relationship goals.
As a result, the challenge is no longer simply finding someone, but finding someone who is serious about building a relationship.
Matchmaking Is Becoming a Larger Business
The growing demand for more guided dating has created new opportunities for matchmaking agencies. In Tokyo, dating agency advertisements now appear on trains, promoting professional help with finding a partner.
Junko Yamada, a lecturer at Tokai University who studies romantic relationships, said young people are increasingly looking for efficiency in different areas of life. Matchmaking agencies provide this by screening people who are serious about marriage and offering support throughout the dating process.
This growing demand is also reflected in IBJ’s membership, which reached more than 110,000 registered members in July 2026.
From Personal Matchmaking to Professional Services
The growth of matchmaking companies also reflects how the role of matchmakers has changed. Ikuko Kato, who has worked as a matchmaker for 44 years and says she has brought together 1,300 couples, believes matchmaking should involve more than simply introducing two people.
In the past, matchmakers often knew the families and backgrounds of the people they introduced. Today, companies can provide matchmaking as a paid service with defined costs, rules, timelines, and ongoing support.
This shift is also taking place as Japan faces demographic challenges, with marriage closely linked to the country’s birth rate. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare reported that births in the first six months of 2026 increased by 0.8% from the same period a year earlier, marking the first increase in 11 years.
Originally published by: Kompas
