During 2023, the Tokyo Government revealed, births numbered 758,631 while deaths were more than double at 1,590,503. This is the eighth consecutive year that births have fallen and was a drop of 5.1% from 2022 numbers.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has promised to counter growing labour shortages with financial aid for families, increased parental leave, and simpler access to child care.

And, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is working on increasing birth rates by introducing an official, Government-created and run, app to help genuine singles find each other and marry.

"We learned that 70% of people who want to get married aren't actively joining events or apps to look for a partner," said a Tokyo government official in charge of the new app. "We want to give them a gentle push to find one."

The app is expected to launch during the Japanese summer, between now and late September 2024. Prospective users will be required to provide evidence they are legally single, a tax certificate to prove their annual salary, and a letter that states they are willing to get married.

The Government will also require prospective users to take an interview proving their identity.

The news has met a mixed reaction with some Japanese saying the app's provisions will help them feel safer when dating online, while others questioned if this is a sensible use of taxpayer money.