With increasing numbers of people in Japan getting married later in life or not at all, local governments are turning to a new weapon in their fight to reverse the trend -- artificial intelligence. Authorities in many regions have been organizing traditional konkatsu matchmaking events with AI sifting for compatibilities between potential partners. They say it has sometimes led to people who would never have imagined being together tying the knot. Even the central government is now lending its support to such moves as depopulation progresses throughout the country. Subsidies for publicly run AI matchmaking events have been expanding since fiscal 2021.

Artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies are starting to play a role in matchmaking as they increasingly wind their way deeper into people's lives. Today's high-tech gadgets are now being used to give people greater knowledge of potential mates, details from hobbies and smoking preferences to whether they have walked down the aisle before. At a konkatsu (marriage introduction) party held by matchmaking agency Zwei in June, participants wore wristbands. When they shook hands, their profiles would show up on a tablet computer, facilitating conversation. "Oh, I see you're a movie lover!" said one attendee, taking cues from the tablet computer.