Japan Kicks Off Studio Ghibli Dating Event To Bump Up Marriage Rate

Photo 265583326 © Zayacskz | Dreamstime.com

Studio Ghibli lovers are being beckoned to find their own fairytale at a dating event run by the Japanese government itself.

Come October 7, government officials from Aichi Prefecture will host a konkatsu, meaning “marriage activities” in Japanese, with themes immersed in the magical world of Hayao Miyazaki. The matchmaking service will be held on the outskirts of Ghibli Park at Aichi Expo Memorial Park.

With an overarching theme in place, Totoro-loving singles can rest assured they’ll meet others with at least one common interest. The event will be a public art scavenger hunt of sorts, where participants will be tasked to find Ghibli-forward objects in groups of six, consisting of three men and three women, SoraNews24 reports.

みんなの忘れ物。愛・地球博記念公園の中に、全部で15箇所あります。見つけてもあとから探す人たちのために、絶対に場所を教えないでください……。 pic.twitter.com/MuylSiS43y

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— スタジオジブリ STUDIO GHIBLI (@JP_GHIBLI) October 6, 2022

Interested singles must be between the ages of 20 and 39, and they have to be living, working, or attending school in the prefecture.

The government closed applications on September 18, with the intention of hosting 400 would-be daters at the event. Alas, the widespread fascination with all things Studio Ghibli meant there were more signups than expected, with 2,249 people signing up. Officials have now selected their 400 participants by lottery.

Image generated on AI

In 2021, Japan captured a record number of young people between the ages of 18 and 34 rejecting marriage, which has proliferated concerns about the nation’s underwhelming birth rate.

Perhaps, when they find a likeminded other half, they’ll be spirited away by the idea of tying the knot.

[via Dexerto and SoraNews24, images via various sources]