Presbyopia Solutions Boost Middle-Senior Matching App Dating Trends

I want to find my last partner in life

“After my divorce, I wanted to settle down and focus on dating. So I decided to take the plunge and make the first move.”

This is what Ms. A, a single woman in her early 50s from the Kanto region, says. She divorced her ex-husband in 2020, and now she leads a comfortable life as a manager while enjoying her piano hobby. Now, she is searching for a partner with the mindset of wanting to enjoy love freely, not as part of marriage hunting. The tool she relies on for this is, surprisingly, a matching app. Since registering about four years ago, she regularly enjoys meeting new men.

Recently, the dating and marriage market for middle seniors, people in their 40s to 60s, has been gaining momentum.

“This year marks the beginning of the ‘2025 Problem,’ where one in four citizens will be over the age of 75. According to the national census, the lifetime single rate in 2020 was about 28% for men and 18% for women. Furthermore, by 2030, it is predicted that one in three men and one in four women will remain single for life.

While younger people are becoming less enthusiastic about finding partners, the presence of middle-aged and senior people in the market is growing. Many are not just unmarried, but also single due to divorce or widowhood. Many are longing for a partner, expressing concerns like, ‘I’m worried about spending my old age alone’ or ‘I want my last partner in life, making dating and marriage hunting a huge trend.” (Cultural reporter for a national newspaper)

The rise of romance among middle seniors is influencing many areas. For example, Netflix’s dating reality show for middle-aged people, Aino Sato, has become a massive hit. The second season, which started streaming on November 5, 2024, debuted by topping Japan’s Weekly TV Top 10.

“‘Aino Sato’ is a reality dating show featuring eight men and women aged 35 to 60 living together in a traditional house and working to find their last love. The first season, which aired in May 2023, stayed in Japan’s top 10 for six consecutive weeks. The second season, set in Okinawa, captured the public’s attention with the unique personalities of its residents.” (TV magazine writer)

The success of such shows has led to a surge in demand for matching apps. Ms. A, who uses an app instead of a marriage-hunting site, explains why she prefers this approach.