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Matchmaking Party Promoted by Tokyo Rejects Disabled Man
Is Tokyo’s zeal for promoting marriage coming at the cost of equality?
By Saki Toi
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is doing everything possible to get people to marry and help reverse Japan’s declining population. To that end, it’s provided a list of matchmaking parties and even launched an official Tokyo dating app. However, one recent controversy where an “official” matchmaking party rejected a disabled man raises questions about equal opportunity and fair treatment.
Mildly disabled man rejected for not being “healthy”
A 44-year-old man living in Tokyo, who has a mild intellectual disability, works full-time at a food retail store. He has no issues with everyday conversations and lives independently, cooking for himself. In the past, he has even dated several women.
One day, he applied for a matchmaking party hosted by a nonprofit in Tokyo. The event aimed to connect singles in their 30s and 40s looking for marriage. He said he felt secure signing up because the event the Tokyo Metropolitan Government listed the event on its official marriage…
