Japanese man starts dating agency after 2,000 failed dates

A man in Japan established a dating agency to help others in navigating the complexities of love after experiencing 2,000 unsuccessful blind dates, a struggle exacerbated by a low income and living with his parents, the South China Morning Post reported.

Identified only as Yoshio, a 44-year-old resident of Shizuoka prefecture, he holds a master’s degree in science from a Japanese university.

Eight years ago, Yoshio began his quest for a partner and joined several matchmaking agencies.

However, after four years and nearly 2,000 failed blind dates, he faced numerous rejections: some women ghosted him after just one meeting, while others dismissed him solely based on his profile.

Yoshio attributes his difficulties to being an only child, living with his parents, and earning a modest income.

He revealed that his annual income was about 3.5 million yen (US$23,000), which fell short of the minimum requirements set by various matchmaking agencies, where the average male member earned about 5.5 million yen.

On one date, Yoshio took a woman to admire the cherry blossoms in a park. However, when she saw his compact car, she sneered: “I don’t even know what brand this is.”

For the remainder of the date, she barely engaged in conversation, maintained her distance, and they did not connect afterwards.

At this point in his life, Yoshio was living with his parents, as his workplace was in proximity.

Before that, he had enjoyed over 15 years of independence while living alone.

Despite this, many women perceived him as a “mama’s boy” and were deterred from pursuing a relationship.

On one occasion, Yoshio shared photos of himself with two potential dates; one photo included his mother in the background.

The first woman promptly blocked him, while the second cancelled their date.

Yoshio labelled them “rude” and candidly admitted that the rejections were painful.

Nevertheless, he viewed these experiences as valuable lessons.

“As I continued dating those willing to meet me, I honed my skills in conversation, decision-making, and planning dates. Each dating experience enhanced my abilities,” he stated.

Not long after, he met his future wife through a dating app.

He expressed that his sincerity and diligence endeared him to her, while he admired her independence and strong sense of responsibility.

After dating for over a year, they married and later welcomed a child.

Yoshio went on to establish the Yoshio Marriage Laboratory, a dating agency that provides free consultations for individuals facing challenges in love and marriage.