Unprecedented Craze: Ghibli-themed Dating Event Leaves Japanese Government Astounded!

Highlights

The Japanese government sponsored a matchmaking event for Studio Ghibli fans to encourage marriage and family-building in a country with declining birth rates.

The event garnered an immense turnout, with nearly six times the amount of applicants compared to the available slots, indicating the widespread affection for Studio Ghibli and the yearning for romance. A draw was held to select 400 attendees for the event, yet organizers aspire to organize future gatherings to cater to the remaining Studio Ghibli enthusiasts seeking companionship.

The Japanese government is sponsoring a unique event in Aichi Prefecture for individuals searching for love interests. What makes this event different from typical match-making gatherings is that attendees must be fans of the renowned animation studio, Studio Ghibli. Surprisingly, the organizers did not anticipate the overwhelming popularity of the event, as the number of applications received exceeded the available spots by almost six times.

Due to the declining numbers of marriages and children in Japan each year, the Japanese government is intervening by organizing these matchmaking events. Their hope is to facilitate connections between individuals and foster an interest in starting families, particularly given the significant population of elderly citizens in the country. While some citizens, who identify as otaku and are content with anime and games, may not be interested in meeting others, this particular event aimed to bring together Studio Ghibli otaku, proving to be a successful idea.

To apply for the matchmaking event, participants needed to meet simple requirements: 1) being single, 2) falling within the age range of 20 to 39, and 3) residing, working, or studying in Aichi Prefecture. While not an official requirement, being an avid fan of Studio Ghibli was what enticed most applicants. The event will take place in the Aichi Expo Memorial Park, the same park where the Studio Ghibli Theme Park is located.

Although the event itself does not occur within the walls of the theme park, it embraces a Ghibli theme throughout. Potential couples will collaborate to discover hidden Ghibli artwork scattered around the park. Divided into teams of six, consisting of three men and three women, they will spend the afternoon together, searching for the hidden art. The hope is that this shared activity will foster conversations and potentially ignite deeper connections between participants.

The organizers of the event had initially anticipated a substantial number of applicants, potentially reaching 400. After a prolonged hiatus due to COVID-19, there had been a strong demand for these matchmaking events to make a comeback. However, their expectations fell short. By the time the application period closed on September 18th, a staggering total of 2,249 applications had been received. The applications were evenly divided between men and women, with 1,175 men and 1,074 women.

Given that the event is scheduled for October 7th, it was not feasible to accommodate such a large number of applicants within the limited time frame and available resources. Consequently, a lottery was conducted to randomly select 400 individuals who would have the opportunity to participate in the official event. Nevertheless, the remaining 1,800 applicants need not lose hope. With the event's overwhelming popularity and Japan's focus on promoting marriage and childbirth, it is likely that another similar event will be organized soon, capable of accommodating all these Studio Ghibli fans seeking love.

Source: SoraNews24