Japan is launching a new initiative aimed at encouraging single women to move from Tokyo to rural areas in a bid to address the country’s declining female population in the countryside. The government hopes this strategy will counteract the trend of young women staying in Tokyo for education and work, which has led to a significant imbalance between single men and women in rural areas.
According to The Japan Times, the initiative will offer financial support for travel expenses related to matchmaking events and additional incentives for those who decide to relocate. The move comes in response to census data revealing a notable gender imbalance: as of the 2020 national census, there were approximately 9.1 million single women aged 15 to 49 in Japan’s 46 prefectures (excluding Tokyo), compared to 11.1 million single men in the same age group. In some areas, the gap between single men and women has reached up to 30%.
The trend of more women moving to the greater Tokyo area has intensified this issue, as many do not return to rural regions after relocating for educational or professional opportunities. To address this, the government plans to expand an existing subsidy program that provides up to $7,000 for women relocating from Tokyo’s 23 wards to rural areas.
Japan is grappling with a major demographic challenge, with the birth rate hitting a record low of 727,277 births last year and a fertility rate of just 1.20, well below the 2.1 needed for a stable population. In response, the government has introduced various measures, including financial incentives for couples to have children, expanded childcare facilities, and a state-backed dating app in Tokyo that uses AI to match singles.
Tokyo officials have expressed hope that these initiatives will provide support for individuals struggling to find partners and encourage them to use new platforms to connect. “If there are many individuals interested in marriage but unable to find a partner, we want to provide support,” an official told The Asahi Shimbun. “We hope that this app, with its government association, will provide a sense of security and encourage those who have been hesitant to use traditional apps to take the first step in their search for a partner.”
While some experts express concerns about the potential for societal collapse, Japan remains proactive in promoting marriage and family growth as solutions to its demographic decline. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has described the falling birth rates as “the gravest crisis our country faces.”
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