Japanese Dating Apps For Foreigners

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Tinder, Grindr, Bumble, Hinge, Happn. I arrived in Japan last year well-versed in the world of dating apps — and was pretty much done with them. But then after a month or two, half out of curiosity and half out of new-to-Tokyo friendlessness, I found myself climbing back onto the online dating bandwagon loaded with, well, cynicism, but also just a teensy bit of hope that things would be different.

Surprise! Apps here were a minefield of miscommunication and wires crossing in all the wrong ways; an interpretative battleground where nobody really knows what the f*ck is going on. And it all started with some of the oddest profiles I’d ever laid eyes upon. Cue my new addiction to the steep learning curve of unique bios, photos, and ice-breakers, that, as distinct as they were, actually were not one-offs. In fact, after checking out the apps of my social circle too, it seemed that the same kinds of profiles occur often enough to be able to be — yup — categorized. So here you have it: A selection of eight types of dating app profiles you might encounter in Japan.

The Shy Guy

Japanese

A very common trend with Japanese profiles is the distinct lack of photographs of the person themselves. This means figuring out what your guy is all about by perusing photos of their favorite hobbies, food, or animals. A flip-through of a profile will go something like this: Cat photo, cat photo, bowl of ramen, cat photo, long exposure of a starry night.

In the age of the great narcissistic debate over whether or not dating apps are ethical, you might be really into this idea of getting to know someone first before seeing what they look like. Still, I can’t help but wonder the match success rate among these kinds of profiles. Then again, I don’t know who any of them are to ask.

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What to do in the event of an encounter:

Don’t bother. It’s already impossible to meet a close friend in somewhere as busy as Shinjuku station, so how are you supposed to recognize a potential date by their cat?

The Language Exchanger

A lot of us are searching for a type of love where the object of our affection will see us for who we truly are, as in, the inner workings of our minds. Well, the Language Exchanger is looking to get inside your head — the left hemisphere of your brain where you process speech and language. Yes, this person just wants a free language teacher. At least their intentions are clear from their bio (depending on their English level). If it works for you then great, maybe you need help with your Japanese too, I know I still do. But personally, I am not comfortable with being used as a romantic Rosetta Stone.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

You’ll swiftly be asked along to a meet-up where you are the only English speaker and you become a sushi conveyor belt of English conversation. If you have the endurance to answer continuous grammar questions, make sure you get a cut of the entry fee.

The Filtered Fun

Wow, a quick test drive of my male friend’s Tinder shows me that the “Male seeking Female” setting looks like Snapchat threw up on it. It’s like a magical place of Purikura and all the cat ears the world has to offer. We are all special snowflakes, but does this teeter on the edge of catfishing?

Or maybe their skin does sparkle, they do have eyes the size of baseballs and they can vomit rainbows. If so, I take it all back.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

Bleep Blop. A word of advice for my lady cohorts. Guys out there who are searching for girls are also dealing with a lot of bots, so ditching the filters and presenting your authentic self will make you shine brighter than any filter ever could.

The Tourist

Left, left, left, left… BAM! You’ve struck dating gold. You haven’t seen such a high caliber of dating potential in at least a fortnight of politely swiping “thank you, next.” Intelligent, successful, down-to-earth, funny, attractive, whatever it is that you’re into, this person has it. You are elated. The chat is going well, you’ve shared witty openers, complimented each other’s pets, and then they deliver the “I’m visiting for a week, you live here though? That’s cool!“-line.

You lift your chu-hi to the universe and give a knowing nod. Another fish from another sea. Sigh.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

The high of a whirlwind romance paves way to the lows of being left behind. If you’re in a good place in your life and only want a little burst of excitement, then date away! It could be the beginning of your future grandkid’s bedtime stories (leave out the Tinder part though, you met at a manga library for sure).

The Expat Macho

Gym poses are common among dating profiles across the world, but the particular type of machismo we’re discussing here is closer to the Western alpha male trope. Chatting with your matches, you may forget just how different the lovely Japanese bubble of niceness is compared to interactions you might have in your own country. Next thing you know you’re being called a “b*tch ass hoe” for not messaging back fast enough. At home, I expect d*ck pics. Lulled by a false sense of security here in Japan, I don’t.

So how can you tell who is an “Expat Macho?”

Well, you can’t. At first, they will appear to be normcore at its finest. It’s only a matter of delayed replies before the unpleasant messages start coming.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

Don’t get me wrong, there are hundreds of good people out there for every one person who spoils your dating app experience, but what’s important is that you should never allow your standards to be compromised by some average dude negging you because they read The Game once. The apps don’t want these guys using their service either. Report them, move on.

The Married One

Tinder in Japan is especially hazardous for foreigners who enter into matches believing the other person is seeking a genuine romantic connection. Many Japanese people, tied to insane work schedules that hinder meeting others, use Tinder to simply make new friends.

That said, there are occasional users who are married or in relationships but are looking for a bit of *cough, cough* side action. They will appear to be an honest person by declaring their relationship status within their bio and explicitly stating that they are looking to make new friends only.

Tread carefully good daters, and beware of the lines that start with “I’m in a relationship, I’m not like other guys looking to be sleazy towards you, let’s be friends,” and two minutes later finish with “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, can I have your LINE?!”

What to do in the event of an encounter:

Unless you’re searching for a “Papa Katsu” (Sugar Daddy), then unmatch, and be grateful that you haven’t married them. Phew, being single ain’t so bad after all.

The Wildcard

These people exist everywhere, and Japan is no exception to the rule. I’m talking about the profile so weird that you do a double take in mild disbelief. Harry Potter as the only photo? Check. A zoomed in photograph of a bloodshot eye? Check. Four consecutive snaps of a hotdog? Check. Someone’s face superimposed onto an edamame bean pod? Check.

Hilarious? Endearing? Mildly terrifying? Whatever your reaction, best of luck to these folk.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

There’s only one thing for it, take a screenshot and save it in your funny “Tinder Nightmares” folder on your phone.

The Good One

You’re stumbling off the train after your long work commute, dazed and bewildered by the sea of weirdness that you’ve just swiped past. Just when you’ve all but given up on dating in Japan completely, and resigned yourself to a future of Netflix and cats, a little ray of curiosity shines through as you get a notification of a new match at the top of your screen.

You gasp internally. It’s that one that you found to be very attractive a few days ago. The chat proves them to be a normal, polite, functioning human being. Is this an authentic romantic connection?

How rare it is to meet someone special and hit it off! Let’s just hope you don’t discover after the first date that your new romantic interest is one of your friend’s exes.

Oh no, wait. That’s just my luck! FML.

What to do in the event of an encounter:

My sad story aside, if you’re lucky enough to have met someone great and found something truly special, then no advice is needed. Go for it!

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Have you ever encountered dating app profiles like these in Japan? What do you think makes a winning profile? Let us know in the comments!

10 dating apps to swipe right or left depending on what you’re looking for in your next relationship here in Japan.

So you’ve moved to Japan hopeful that the dating scene here will be ah-mazing and full of new excitement. You think you’ll find the perfect Japanese man for you right away and things will lead to a happy ending. Or just have some fun for a while. While that’s a great mindset to have, it’s time to get real. Most foreign women living in Japan that want a serious relationship need to put in more legwork than they might otherwise overseas. Shyness combined with language and cultural barriers plus the not-so-little matter of a global pandemic make dating an even more stressful situation than it typically is.

But luckily, we live in an era where you can find anything online—even relationships. A quick search online will show you dozens of different deai-kei (出会い系 online dating) apps, but how do you know what will help you find who or what you’re looking for?

Having been there, done that, I decided to do a quick poll of my foreign friends to find out what apps or sites worked best for them and what didn’t. 15 international women living in Japan gave the original rankings out of five stars when this article was first published in 2017, and five of that same group helped to update this ranking for the dating scene in 2020. It’s up to you whether to swipe right or left!

1. Tinder

One that doesn’t need an introduction. While most people are “just looking” on Tinder, if you’re actively trying, you can not only meet people to date, but new friends, drinking buddies, networkers and activity mates. I found a whole group of men and women to check out summer festivals with, so I can speak from experience when I say that Tinder isn’t just for hanky panky.

In 2020, Tinder began offering its global passport, normally a paid service, for free to all users. It enabled them to better connect and communicate, which for several of the ladies was a huge bonus.

  • Language: English, Japanese
  • Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
  • Original Ranking: 4 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 5 stars

2. Bumble

Bumble markets itself as the app where the woman makes the first move, and if she doesn’t message, then the match disappears after 24 hours. This app also relies on the user having a Facebook profile first in order to log in, which has made it a bit slow to catch on in Japan, but it is gaining in popularity because of its “women get to choose” option.

One of the women I surveyed (and who found her current Japanese boyfriend through this app) summarized it as follows: “There are a lot of guys on there, and most of them aren’t on other apps as well. You don’t find as many fake profiles on Bumble as you do with other sites, and you get to control the whole ‘am I going to bother talking to him’ part, which is really nice.

In 2020, the app is not just for dating, but also for business opportunities, and making friends too. Within the app, you can switch from one feature to another, which makes it very versatile for the global community, and also a great way to keep in touch and build your social circle from a safe distance.

  • Language: English, Japanese
  • Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
  • Original Ranking: 4½ stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 5 stars

3. OkCupid Japan

Billed as “the best dating site on Earth,” OkCupid’s Japanese version is much more detail focused than Bumble or Tinder, with the average time to fill out your profile coming in at around 45 minutes. You can of course opt to leave most of your profile empty, but based on the experiences shared with me, it isn’t recommended, because you’re most likely to remain unnoticed. According to one woman who has used it, “OkCupid has a lot of serial daters on it, so if you use other dating apps/sites, you may be discouraged by the dating pool overall.

In the 2020 dating scene, it’s still a staple, but the imbalance in users and the volume of fake profiles is staggering. It’s also said to be a hassle to sign up for too, so unless you’re really determined to use it, you’d probably have less trouble with a different app.

  • Language: English, Japanese, and others
  • Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription
  • Original Ranking: 3 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 2 stars

4. JapanCupid

Not to be confused with OkCupid, JapanCupid is a part of the Cupid Media Group, a niche-based dating site group, that connects users with people from around the world rather than just in their immediate area. While this makes it somewhat less appealing to users in Japan, JapanCupid is popular with those who will not be staying in Japan for the long term, and with those who are looking for someone to marry—though apparently there are far more Japanese women on this site than there are Japanese men.

Unfortunately in 2020, not much seems to have changed, and when a different friend logged in, she was inundated with a number of obviously fake profiles and soon deleted her account. “Claiming a 20-year-old Korean pop star is really you, but you’re a 36-year-old Japanese man? No thanks.

  • Language: English, Japanese, and others
  • Fees: Free, special features require a monthly subscription/fees
  • Original Ranking: 3 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 1 star

5. MatchAlarm

MatchAlarm was a Japanese language only dating app that recommended a new person to you every morning at 8 a.m. based on your social information gleaned from your Facebook profile and behavior. You had 16 hours to respond to an alarm, after which it would disappear, and would require three coins (a part of the in-app payment system) in order to tap the “Might Like You” button. But unfortunately, MatchAlarm is no more, and therefore no longer part of the ranking.

6. Omiai

The largest online dating site and app service in Japan that relies on your Facebook profile (or Apple ID, or phone number now) to search for your ideal match. This is another konkatsu service, so unless you’re looking for a serious relationship, Omiai might not be the site for you. There are 24 points that you can filter your results by, including nationality and income level, which some users pointed out makes this site seem more for sugar daddy searching than anything else, but overall, no one had any serious complaints about this site.

For daters in 2020 with the Japanese language skills to keep up, Omiai has somewhat rebranded itself in more of a Tinder/Instagram friendly fashion, and strictly placed focus on it being a relationship/marriage-centric app. If you’re seriously looking to meet a marriage partner, this is probably your best option when it comes to dating apps.

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: Free for women, ¥1,950 per month (for the 12-month plan) for men
  • Original Ranking: 4 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 4 stars

7. Tapple

Japanese Dating Apps For Foreigners

Tapple is a dating app where, instead of filling out a profile and searching for people, you fill out the qualifiers of what sort of man you’re interested in, and then join different groups based on your hobbies. Then, you’re shown a selection of men who share that interest and meet your criteria, and you can either like, skip, or super like their profile.

While I had some positive experiences meeting and talking to people on this app, when the time came to actually meet in person, the people that I spoke to were very hesitant to meet offline. One guy actually said he preferred to talk and date online exclusively. Other foreign female users I spoke with had similar results, so this might not be a good choice if you are seriously looking to meet someone.

Thanks to numerous updates to a more streamlined, Tinder-like service, plus TV and online commercials in 2020, Tapple has become a very competitive app, preferred by those in their 20s who are looking for a relationship that could lead to something more. Plus, the numbers of people who want to take things slowly and start online here make it ideal for those wanting companionship but not willing to head out on the town just yet.

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee for men (varies by number of months desired)
  • Original Ranking: 2½ stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 4 stars

8. YYC

Japanese Dating Apps For Foreigners In China

YYC has been around for twenty years now according to its website and still lists itself as Japan’s largest dating service. When you join, you are given an automatic 300 points to use in order to meet and match with others based on your own search parameters. The vast majority of this service’s users are young professionals. YYC is a dating site designed for people who want to combine the blogging space of LiveJournal with the influencer lifestyle of Instagram, so if you aren’t the type to frequently update and message, you might find this site to be more of a hassle than anything else. “Casual users tend to just disappear after their free points run out, so it’s not a place for you if you aren’t ready to commit to the effort,” said one user.

None of the ladies I spoke with still used YYC, so I gave it an honest try, and I have to say, it wasn’t all that bad, but I did find it somewhat repetitive. If your Japanese isn’t up to par, it can be a struggle to navigate as well.

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee/points system for men
  • Original Ranking: 3½ stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 3 stars
Japanese

Japanese Dating Apps For Foreigners Free

9. Pairs

Pairs is another online dating site and one that has had numerous TV and train commercials since going online. This site and its related app also uses your Facebook profile but allows you to hide your full name, enabling its users to go by initials instead. Their target audience tends to be younger Japanese men, “so there are plenty of guys to choose from, but those that are interested in pursuing a serious relationship with a non-native Japanese speaker are few and far between, at least in my experience,” according to a user.

It’s updated a bit, but nothing really major has changed about the quality of the users,” says the same person as above in 2020. “I still use it, and sometimes you find someone nice, but it’s more work than some of the other apps out there now.

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: Free for women, monthly subscription fee for men
  • Original Ranking: 3 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 3 stars

Japanese Dating Apps For Foreigners Online

10. Zexy Koimusubi

Zexy Koimusubi is a dating app that is part of a popular Japanese wedding services company. The app overall works on the same principles of matching based on shared interests and uses your Facebook profile to compile this data, but otherwise, it seems to have a fairly high success rate. Whether this is due to their association with weddings and marriage already is anyone’s guess, but of the people that I know that have used this site, two married someone they met on there, and one is planning her wedding now, so make of that what you will.

I met my husband on this site, so of course I would recommend it to anyone that is serious about marriage, having kids, and staying in Japan. It does work, if you’re brutally honest with yourself about what you’re looking for. If you’re still trying to figure that out, don’t bother with this app.” (Jane, American, 31)

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: initial one time ¥108 fee for women (for ID check purposes), monthly fee for men
  • Original Ranking: 4 stars
  • 2020 Ranking: 4½ stars

11. Bonus App—Happy Mail

Japanese Dating Free

Happy Mail first began in 2001 but wasn’t a major player in the dating app scene for a long time. According to their website, thanks to consistent efforts over the last twenty years they have the largest number of members of any dating/matching app in Japan. There are just over 25 million people on Happy Mail, looking for everything from pen pals to serious marriage partners.

Based on testimonials from male friends and a few women, it’s quite similar to Pairs but has more of the immediacy of Tinder in terms of matching, so it all comes down to what or how you want to go about dating in 2020 whether this app is what will work for you.

  • Language: Japanese
  • Fees: Free for women (plus a 120 coin present as some services require points), points/pay as you go fees for men
  • Ranking: 4 stars

Before subscribing to a Japanese “serious” dating app, keep in mind that most of them are likely to require you to submit a photo of an official ID before using their services. This is because they are quite literally trying to find you a suitable husband. If that’s your goal, don’t mind the screening! Good luck in finding the best for yourself, ladies!

Have you ever used a dating app or site in Japan? Share your experiences in the comments.