JAPAN TIMES – Nov 1 – The number of unmarried people is on the rise and Japan continues to be troubled by a low birthrate and an aging society. According to the internal affairs ministry's 2010 data, 71% of men aged between 25 and 29 were single. Also, in 2010, 46.5% of those between 30 and 34 and 34.6% aged between 35 and 39 were also unmarried. Meanwhile, single women are also on the increase. Does the rise in singles mean more people don't want to wed? No. According to 2005 data by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research on singles, it shows that ~90% of all men and women want to marry at some point. According to a 2006 survey taken by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the estimated matchmaking market size was ¥50 billion-¥60 billion with 600,000 single male and female clients. More business-oriented omiai agencies have emerged, including Zenkoku Nakodo Rengokai, which was set up in 1970 and currently has 1K matchmakers nationwide.
by Masami Ito
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