Push Toward That First Step: Tokyo Supports People Seeking New Connections and Marriage

Creating a Supportive Environment for People Considering Marriage

Under the key message of "Supporting Your Aspirations," the TMG is providing "seamless support" tailored to changing stages of life—from finding a partner and marrying, to pregnancy, childbirth, child-rearing, and balancing work with childcare. This is part of the city's ongoing efforts to create a Tokyo where people can make their hopes of getting married and having children a reality. Amid these efforts, marriages in Tokyo saw a 4.0 percent increase in 2025 compared to 2024, marking the second consecutive year of significant growth—something not seen in 19 years. That same year, births to Japanese nationals in the city also saw their first increase in a decade.

To rally all of Tokyo in supporting marriage, the TOKYO Marriage Support Festa was held on this special day marked by 3 "8"s.

The opening event in the central plaza began with opening remarks by Governor of Tokyo Koike Yuriko, amid bustling crowds. She introduced the TMG's various marriage support initiatives and expressed her hope that the event would build momentum toward marriage.

"The Kanji character for the number 8, 八, widens toward the bottom, symbolizing a future of growing prosperity. And when turned on its side, the number '8' becomes the symbol for infinity. With this power of infinity, let's envision the future together, with the hope that the connections you make today become a step toward tomorrow."

The event featured a congratulatory address from Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, as well as video messages from the governors of Aichi, Yamanashi, and Kagawa Prefectures, which are collaborating with Tokyo on the "8 (Hachi) MUSUBI" project. An award ceremony was also held to honor the 8 projects selected for Excellence Awards in the "TOKYO 8 (Hachi) MUSUBI Movement Project," a contest seeking ideas that creatively incorporate the number "8" and related keywords, and help build momentum for marriage.

In the latter half of the event, Governor Koike was joined on stage by a distinguished group of guests: marriage advisor Uekusa Miyuki; Kakitani Yoichiro, a former player on Japan's national soccer team; and TV personality Inoue Sakura. Reflecting on his own experience, Kakitani explained why he decided to get married: "I saw how much effort she was making for me," and "I felt that we could get through both the good times and the hard times together." Asked about her ideal date, Inoue said, "I want us to share experiences while also valuing our time apart." When she revealed that she trains for her hobby of marathon running 5 days a week and covers 250 kilometers a month, the other guests reacted with surprise, creating a lively atmosphere in the venue.

"It's not enough to want to get married 'someday.' It's important to decide when you want to get married. We're in an age now when women are taking the initiative and proposing too. Just waiting around won't get you anywhere," said Uekusa, who has helped over 1,300 couples get married. Members of the audience could be seen nodding intently at her words.

Hands-on Booths for Self-Improvement and Taking That First Step

At Hills House on the 33rd floor of Mori JP Tower, a variety of hands-on booths offered experiences aimed at easing anxieties about looking for a potential partner and encouraging participants to take the next step. These included a photo and hairstyling experience for taking photos that can be used in dating profiles, an assessment offering advice on participants' voices and speaking styles, a personal color analysis, and a mock marriage consultation.

A woman in her 20s who took part in the photo and hairstyling experience said, "More and more of my friends are getting married. I participated because I felt I needed to start doing something about it too."

A man in his 20s who had also booked the photo and hairstyling experience, as well as a mock marriage consultation, began looking for a potential partner after moving to Tokyo from Nagoya 4 months prior. He hopes to get married by the age of 30 but said he has had few opportunities to meet potential partners, both at work and in his personal life.

A woman in her 30s who attended the event with a friend had been through a divorce 6 years earlier. Since then, she had been balancing parenting with a desire to build a new partnership with someone.

She said she had tried a wide range of options, including dating apps and matchmaking parties. Describing her experiences with each, she said, "With dating apps, I sometimes found that the impression someone gave in their profile didn't necessarily match how they came across in person, and people had different views on relationships, which made it a little hard to know whether someone was right for me," and "As for matchmaking parties, a lot of people do attend with marriage in mind, but that can actually make people cautious, so that relationships take longer to develop."

After her 30-minute mock marriage consultation, she was optimistic about her next steps. "I realized how important it is to set a clear timeframe for looking for a partner. I'll keep trying on my own for another six months, and if I don't meet the right person by then, I'll consider joining a matchmaking agency. I also hadn't considered younger men before, but now I want to broaden my horizons."

Marriage Is Not the Goal—Just One Form that Happiness Can Take

Ishii Sanae, a counselor at the mock marriage consultation booth, married in her late forties after using a matchmaking agency herself, but soon found herself facing the possibility of divorce. She began learning more about relationships and, wanting to help others facing similar struggles, decided to become a counselor. "Marriage isn't the goal—it's just one choice you can make. I hope people will take the time to reflect on themselves and discover what happiness means to them."

Commenting on the recent increase in unmarried people and the trend toward later marriage, Ishii said, "Many people struggle with not knowing how to build deep relationships, not only with romantic partners but also with friends of the opposite sex." She went on to explain the benefits of matchmaking agencies: "I especially encourage those who have a lot of anxiety about marriage or relationships to use a matchmaking agency, because they have counselors there who are able to provide attentive, personalized support."

A Simulator for Envisioning Your Ideal Future and an AI Matching System

The Tokyo Marriage Support Booth in the outdoor venue included an interactive area for the Tokyo Life Design Simulator, which proved popular with visitors. The simulator allows users to imagine what their lives might look like eight years from now. It can simulate major life events such as further education, starting a career, getting married, and having children through a social media-style interface, while also allowing users to learn about the relevant TMG programs available at each stage.

The TMG also operates TOKYO Enmusubi, an AI matching system that uses the results of a values assessment to help match users with compatible partners. As registration requires users to submit documentation, including proof of single status and identity, the system attracted considerable interest from visitors at the event, with comments like, "It's reassuring that it's run by the TMG" and "I'd definitely like to try it." The system launched in full in September 2024, and as of August 31, 2026, it has received approximately 39,000 membership applications. It has also produced tangible results, with 316 couples going on to marry.

Toward a Tokyo Where People Can Achieve the Future They Aspire to

"The TMG is helping to invigorate the matchmaking industry by actively reaching out to people who have yet to take the first step toward finding a potential partner. Public-private collaboration is also helping to build momentum for marriage across society as a whole," said Omori Yuichi of the Bureau of Citizens and Cultural Affairs at the TMG. Many people have also expressed a sense of trust in content and events hosted by the TMG, highlighting the important role of government in these efforts.

The TMG will take into account the needs identified through its initiatives to date, such as the desire to look for a potential partner in a safe and reassuring environment and to take steps toward marriage at one's own pace, and reflect them in future measures.

With "Supporting Your Aspirations" as its key message, the TMG will continue to pursue a seamless and diverse range of initiatives tailored to each person's stage of life, working to make Tokyo a city where people are able to turn their hopes into a reality.