Thousands sign up for Ghibli-themed dating event by Japan local government
By Bryan Ke
September 27, 2023
More than 2,000 people reportedly flocked to register for a Studio Ghibli-themed matchmaking event organized by the government of Aichi Prefecture in Japan, way past its 400-participant limit.
About the event: The event, reported to be a “konkatsu” — which literally translates to “marriage activities,” as per SoraNews24 — will pair 200 men and 200 women with each other. It will take place at Aichi Expo Memorial Park, where Ghibli Park is also located, on Oct. 7.
Requirements: Each participant must be single, aged 20 to 39 and living, working or studying in the prefecture. They must also be a fan of Studio Ghibli as they will have to look for related art pieces scattered throughout the park.
Lottery held: A total of 2,249 people — 1,175 men and 1,074 women — registered between Aug. 1 and Sept. 18 to join the event, The Mainichi reported. As this significantly exceeds the 400-participant limit, organizers had to hold a lottery.
The big picture: The event appears to be an effort of the Aichi government to help address declining birth and marriage rates in Japan, which have resulted in a shrinking population. A 2021 survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security, which was published last September, found that 17.3% of men and 14.6% of women between 18 and 34 have no plans of getting married. These are said to be the highest figures recorded since the survey began in 1982.
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