【厳選！】【密着】福岡県が主催する婚活イベント　これまでに600組が結婚　今年度はAI活用も　福岡

This is a topic about "matchmaking." A private organization announced in April that eight municipalities in Fukuoka Prefecture are at risk of disappearing in the near future due to population decline. The indicator used was a decline in birth rates. In an effort to curb the declining birthrate, Fukuoka Prefecture is focusing on "matchmaking events." Read the article about this video https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/fbs/category... On April 20th, 15 men and women in their 20s and 30s gathered at a restaurant in Yoshitomi Town, Fukuoka Prefecture. ■Participant "We honestly came here to find a partner." "I've always wanted a partner, and I wanted to find one before I turn 30." The event was a matchmaking event for singles hoping to get married. Participation is 2,500 yen per person, including lunch. One participant, Hiroki Wasai (38) from Yoshitomi Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, has been looking for a partner for a year. ■Hiroki Wasai (38) "I'm getting older, so I want to get married soon." Having worked in a factory where there were mostly men, he says he had few opportunities to meet women. In order to fully focus on his search for a partner, he moved out and lived alone last December. ■Wasai "I'm good at housework and I cook quite a bit, so if you're interested, I'd love to join you." First, we'll introduce ourselves one-on-one. ■Wasai "Where are you from today?" ■Woman "From Fukuoka City." ■Wasai "So it was quite far away, huh?" ■Woman "I see." ■Wasai "I'm from my hometown, Yoshitomi Town." At first, Wasai was nervous. He looked at the profiles of people he'd registered in advance on his smartphone, searching for topics to talk about. ■Kazusai "Are you living alone now?" ■Woman "I'm at my parents' house. Are you living alone?" ■Kazusai "Yes, I live alone. I usually do all the housework myself. Since you live at home, does that mean you don't do any housework at all?" ■Woman "Well, not completely..." I struggle to bring up the topic of housework, which is one of my selling points, but the conversation just doesn't flow. Next, we split into groups and discuss a designated topic. ■Kazusai "We can have fun together, like hobbies." ■Woman "What kind of hobbies do you have?" ■Kazusai "Bicycling, weight training, games, etc." I was able to actively promote my hobbies. This matchmaking event was organized by Fukuoka Prefecture, not a private organization. There's a compelling reason why the prefecture is so committed to matchmaking. According to Fukuoka Prefecture, the number of marriages in fiscal year 2022 was 21,840, a figure that's declining year by year. Accordingly, the birth rate has been declining for seven consecutive years, hitting a record low of 35,970 in fiscal year 2022. ■Yuichi Otani, Director, Children's Future Division, Fukuoka Prefecture "The declining population due to the declining birthrate also has the impact of a lack of workers. We would like to expand our events to areas outside of urban areas so that those hoping to get married can make their dreams come true." Fukuoka Prefecture has been running a matchmaking program since 2005, and has helped over 600 couples find love to date. This year, the prefecture is focusing on matchmaking by utilizing AI to hold events that bring together people who are likely to be compatible. Wasai participated in one of the prefecture's matchmaking events. The event lasted approximately three hours, and the final result was announced. Users entered their desired partner, and the results were announced. Wasai's number was 6. ■Mika Aoyagi, Secretary General, Fukuoka Prefecture Dating and Marriage Support Program "Men were 1, 4, 7, and 3." Four couples were formed that day. Kazusai's number was not called. ■ Kazusai "It was quite difficult. I'd like to be a bit more proactive and improve my conversation skills so that women can enjoy themselves. I think a warm, ordinary family is ideal." How do we provide opportunities for people who want to get married but can't find a partner? This is an unavoidable issue for Japan, which is facing a declining population. *FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting Mentai Wide broadcast May 7th, 5:00 PM For the latest news, please visit https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/fbs. X FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting News (@FBS_NEWS5) is also broadcasting.   / fbs_news5