Japan's Kochi Prefecture has launched a financial support program to encourage young people to use dating apps. People aged 20 to 39 will be able to receive a subsidy of up to 20,000 yen (about $125) to cover the cost of registering on platforms such as Tapple.
Officials say this amount almost covers the annual subscription fee. The effectiveness of the project will be assessed later through surveys among users. It is noted that Kochi Prefecture began working with Tapple in December last year with the aim of creating a safer online dating environment.
Similar initiatives have been implemented in other regions, such as Miyazaki Prefecture, but the subsidy amount is smaller - up to 10,000 yen. The attitude to the initiative on social networks is ambiguous: while some consider it a positive step, others emphasize that it does not solve the main problems such as financial difficulties, long working hours and the high cost of raising children.
According to statistics, dating apps are already widespread among young people in Japan. According to a 2024 survey, about a quarter of married people under the age of 39 met their spouse online. However, Japan faces serious demographic challenges: in 2024, the number of births fell to a record low of just over 686,000, while the number of deaths exceeded 1.5 million. This marks the 16th consecutive year of population decline in the country.
Authorities continue to implement various measures to increase the birth rate — expanding childcare facilities, housing subsidies, and even state-run dating apps.
