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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• What are the statistics on Japanese relationships, marriages, singles, dating.

• Why is the birthrate low in Japan in 2025?

• Are Japanese men staying single longer in Japan?

• How do Japanese men and women meet each other in Japan?

• Do Japanese date foreigners in 2025?

• Contact SavvyJapan-Today at: +81.70.9041.6946 for information on Japan!

WHY JAPANESE STAY SINGLE AND THINGS ABOUT JAPAN...

Daniel TJ International Correspondent Tokyo, Japan

You know, the other day I was sitting in this little café in Ginza where I work —one of those places where the chairs are too small and the coffee's way too strong—and I ended up reading this survey about young Japanese adults.

And honestly… it kinda hit me in the gut more than I expected.

It said 53.7% of Japanese men and women in their 20s have never been in a romantic relationship. Never. Not even a short one. And then only 27.8% said they’re currently in some kind of relationship.

And I just sat there thinking, “Wow… more than half?” It’s one thing to hear people talk about the “dating crisis” in Japan, but seeing that number on paper—53.7%—felt heavier.

I mean, I’ve been here long enough to see it with my own eyes. I’ve had Japanese friends—great people, kind, funny, smart—who, at 28 or 29, quietly admit over drinks that they’ve never dated anyone.

Not for lack of wanting to, but because life just kinda… slid by. Work… pressure… shyness… routines… fear of making things awkward… all of it mixes together into this huge wall.

And I don’t blame them. Japan isn’t exactly the easiest place to find romance these days.

The numbers are honestly kinda wild

So I went digging a little more, and the picture gets even clearer—and sadder, honestly.

• Among Japanese men in their 20s, around 65% are single.

• For women of the same age, it's roughly 51–55% depending on the year.

• About 20–25% of men in their late 20s say they don’t feel confident talking to the opposite sex.

• And nearly half of unmarried Japanese between 18–34 say they’re not actively seeking a partner at all.

Not rejecting love. Just… too tired. Too stressed. Too unsure where to even start. It’s like romance requires energy that young people these days simply don’t have.

Work culture plays a massive role

Spend a year in Japan and you’ll see it.

People work late. A lot. Even in “normal” companies, it’s pretty common to finish at 7:30 or 8pm. And if you’re a young man, you’re often expected to “ganbaru”—work extra hard, stay late, push yourself. Some people basically live at the office.

And dating? Well, that becomes a weekend-only hobby—if you aren’t too exhausted to even think about going out.

A friend of mine, Kenji, once told me:

“By the time I get home, I don’t even want to talk to anyone. Romance feels heavy.”

He’s 29. Never dated. Good-looking guy, good career, sweet personality. But he said the idea of starting something feels like a burden—like another responsibility.

When romance feels like homework, something’s off.

Women are facing their own battles

Japanese women—well, many I’ve met—want stability before romance. Which makes sense, right? They want a partner who’s emotionally available, financially stable, and not glued to the office 70 hours a week.

But the number of men who can offer that? It's shrinking.

You hear women say things like:

• “Men don’t communicate.”

• “I don’t want to marry into stress.”

• “It’s easier to be alone.”

• “I might move abroad anyway.”

And honestly, I get it. Women here are more independent than ever. More educated. More career-driven. Less willing to settle for a marriage where they become the default caretaker of everything.

So some women just choose single life. Or they choose international partners. Or they move abroad where dating feels more open.

International relationships are rising—but not that fast

There's this interesting trend where Japanese women, especially those who study abroad or work in international companies, end up dating non-Japanese partners. It's not huge—still under 5–10% of marriages—but the number is slowly climbing.

And honestly, from what I’ve seen, many of these women say they feel freer in international relationships. More communication. More affection. More sharing of responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Japanese men who date internationally tend to be more open-minded, more adventurous, less traditional—kinda a different personality type from the typical office-warrior salaryman.

But even with this trend, it’s not nearly enough to offset the bigger issue.

And the bigger issue is… Japan is running out of young people

Literally.

The senior population is exploding. Over 29% of Japan is now over 65, and the number keeps climbing.

Every year, fewer babies are born. Fewer couples get married. More people stay single well into their 30s and 40s. And a good chunk of young people are leaving Japan for work, study, or just a different lifestyle.

It’s like the country is gently but steadily… thinning out.

And the scary part? Between ages 20–30—the age when most people in other countries are dating, falling in love, getting married, having kids—Japan is seeing the opposite:

• Fewer relationships

• Less dating

• Less interest in marriage

• Lower birth rates

• More emotional isolation

It's not even just about babies or population stats—it's about loneliness, a kind of quiet, socially acceptable loneliness that no one wants to talk about.

When half the population has never dated… it’s deeper than numbers

It means:

• People don’t feel emotionally safe

• They don’t have time

• They don’t have confidence

• They don’t have opportunities

• They don’t have the social structure to help them

Japan used to have things like arranged introductions, community events, big family networks. Now? Not so much. Everyone’s in their own little bubble.

A Japanese friend of mine once said:

“Our society raised us to be good workers… not partners.”

That one kinda stayed with me.

But it’s not hopeless. Not at all.

Even though the stats look rough, I still see signs of hope:

• More young people are joining hobby groups instead of only relying on work life.

• More Japanese are studying or traveling abroad, opening themselves up to new experiences.

• More couples are choosing flexible work styles.

• More people are talking openly about loneliness, dating, and mental health.

• And honestly? Gen Z here seems more willing to break the old rules.

I’ve seen young couples holding hands in the park, laughing loudly on trains (rare sight!), and being openly affectionate in ways you just didn’t see 10 years ago.

Maybe slowly—very slowly—the culture is shifting.

So… why does this matter?

Because Japan is an amazing country. Warm, safe, creative, full of history and beauty. But a country needs people. Not just workers… people.

With relationships, families, connections, dreams, little babies laughing in supermarkets… all the messy, human stuff.

And if more than half of young people never even get to experience romance?

Yeah. That’s concerning.

But maybe talking about it, honestly and openly—like over a cup of too-strong Shinjuku coffee—is a start.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS? Is it hard for Americans to move to Japan?