Tapple, a popular Japanese dating app with over 20 million users, introduced a feature on April 30, 2025, to verify users’ marital status through government records. The tool aims to prevent married individuals from posing as single, addressing trust issues in online dating as Japan grapples with a demographic crisis.
Addressing User Concerns
A survey conducted by Tapple found that 69% of female users and 54% of male users expressed concerns about the honesty of others regarding their marital status. Additionally, 97% of women and 83% of men indicated a preference for verified information about a potential partner’s single status. The new feature requires users to authorize access to the government’s Myna Portal via their My Number card. Upon verification, accounts of married users are suspended. Tapple stated that the tool is designed “to promote even safer and more secure dating and marriage hunting.”
Context of Japan’s Demographic Challenges
The initiative supports Japan’s efforts to address its low birth rate and aging population, the second-oldest globally after Monaco. A July 2024 government survey revealed that 25% of married individuals aged 40 or younger met through online dating, underscoring the significance of such platforms. Japan recorded 489,000 marriages in 2023, the lowest since 1933, and a fertility rate of 1.2 births per woman, per the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. In response, Tokyo’s government launched its own dating app, Tokyo Enmusubi, in September 2024, requiring proof of single status and a signed commitment to marriage. Tapple’s feature, developed in collaboration with local governments like those in Hokkaido and Himeji, aligns with national efforts to boost marriage and birth rates, though broader economic and social barriers persist.
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