Gearoid Reidy, Columnist

Tokyo’s Government Tinder Is Actually a Good Idea

Tokyo’s plan for a dating app isn’t the solution to the country’s low fertility. But don’t swipe left just yet.

June 10, 2024 at 9:00 PM UTC

Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief.

There’s a role for government in pairing couples off.
Photographer: Akio Kon

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The Tokyo government’s plan to launch its own dating app has attracted mockery online and praise from Elon Musk (which these days often only increases the ridicule).

The announcement, which coincided with the release of latest fertility figures for 2023 that showed a record low, is intended to boost the number of marriages in the capital. In terms of fixing entrenched fertility trends, this idea might not be The One. But don’t swipe left just yet.