Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute Appoints Professor Masahiro Yamada, Proponent of 'Konkatsu,' as Special Advisor!
Rasukoi Inc., operator of the matching app 'Rasukoi,' announced that Professor Masahiro Yamada of Chuo University's Faculty of Letters, a leading family sociologist and advocate of 'konkatsu' (marriage hunting), has been appointed as a special advisor to its specialized institution, the 'Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute.' This appointment aims to strengthen research into encounters and lifestyles in later life, leveraging Professor Yamada's expertise and data from middle-aged and older users of Rasukoi.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 00:01
- 🔍 Collected: May 11, 2026 at 15:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 11, 2026 at 20:58 (5h 26m after Collected)
Rasukoi Inc. (Isaac Group / Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative Director CEO: Kosei Yamaguchi), which operates the matching app 'Rasukoi' connecting people through life experiences, announced on May 11, 2026, that Professor Masahiro Yamada of Chuo University's Faculty of Letters has been appointed as a special advisor to the 'Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute,' a specialized institution operated by the company.
With Professor Yamada, a leading authority in family sociology, joining as a special advisor, the Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute will combine Professor Yamada's research insights with data and voices from middle-aged and older users of Rasukoi. Through joint research design, feature supervision, and the organization of discussion panels and public lectures, the institute will disseminate the realities of 'encounters and life in later stages' to society.
■ Background of Appointment
Loneliness and isolation among middle-aged and older adults are increasingly recognized as critical issues in Japanese society. This trend is driven by an increase in single-person households, changes in family structures in the era of 100-year lifespans, and the weakening of human connections.
As a matching app specifically for those aged 40 and over, Rasukoi has continuously accumulated the authentic voices of this generation.
Approximately 80% of registered users on Rasukoi have been married, and about 70% have experienced divorce. The fact that so many people wish to find a new partner after divorce or bereavement represents a new social reality that cannot be fully understood through the lens of 'konkatsu' aimed at younger generations.
Rasukoi is a service that enhances well-being in later life through finding a partner. At the same time, we daily receive feedback that the very sense of 'having companions who also seek encounters' alleviates feelings of loneliness and fosters a positive outlook on life among registered users.
The entire 'platform,' including the journey to forming a relationship, is becoming a social infrastructure that supports connections in later life.
To connect these realities of individuals with the broader context of Japanese society, such as declining marriage rates, falling birth rates, and increasing single-person households, reliable research insights from family sociology are indispensable. Collaboration with Professor Masahiro Yamada, who has long analyzed the transformations of Japanese families and lifestyles, is considered the most meaningful step in providing the Rasukoi's data on individuals aged 40 and over with the resolution needed for social discourse.
■ Comment from Professor Masahiro Yamada upon Appointment
It was in 2007 that I, along with Momoko Shirakawa, introduced the term 'konkatsu' (marriage hunting) to the world. At the time, while researching unmarried young people who lamented 'no good encounters,' I wanted to convey the fact that 'if you wait, you won't get married; you must actively seek encounters,' and thus coined the term, a shortened form of 'kekkon katsudo' (marriage activities).
Nearly 20 years have passed since then. While 'konkatsu' has become a common term, the perception that 'konkatsu is for young people' has been slow to change.
Currently, the number of single middle-aged and older adults is increasing in Japan. According to the 2020 national census, the proportion of single individuals (never married + divorced) in their 50s reached 35% for men and 30% for women. My current research on them reveals that many feel anxious about living alone in the future.
This is the era of 100-year lifespans. It's never too late to find a partner. Whether it's marriage or a relationship where you meet occasionally and enjoy each other's company, I believe that precisely because they are middle-aged and older, people can find a partner that suits their lifestyle.
I hope to be of some help in this endeavor.
■ Professor Masahiro Yamada Profile
Born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters, completed doctoral coursework at the Graduate School of Sociology at the same university. Currently a professor at Chuo University's Faculty of Letters. As a leading authority in family sociology, he is one of Japan's foremost sociologists, having researched the transformation of Japanese families, romance, and lifestyles for many years. He is also known for successively proposing concepts that capture the times, such as 'parasite singles,' 'disparity society,' and and 'konkatsu.'
Currently, he continues to research, disseminate information, and make policy recommendations on themes such as declining marriage rates, falling birth rates, increasing single-person households, and the ideal form of families and lifestyles in the era of 100-year lifespans.
He leads a wide range of social discussions through media appearances, publications, and lectures. His recent works include 'Tanshin Risk: How to Live in the '100-Year Era'' (Asahi Shinsho), among many others.
■ Comment from Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute
Rasukoi continuously accumulates the authentic voices of people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, which cannot be fully captured by 'konkatsu' services aimed at younger generations. These include restarting after divorce or bereavement, loneliness after raising children, and anxieties and hopes for the future. We are proud that these journeys of individuals represent valuable data unique to Rasukoi.
Rasukoi aims to create a society where everyone can live happily and authentically in later life through encounters and connections. To achieve this, we believe that both the voices of individuals and research insights that contextualize them within society are essential.
For many years...
With Professor Yamada, a leading authority in family sociology, joining as a special advisor, the Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute will combine Professor Yamada's research insights with data and voices from middle-aged and older users of Rasukoi. Through joint research design, feature supervision, and the organization of discussion panels and public lectures, the institute will disseminate the realities of 'encounters and life in later stages' to society.
■ Background of Appointment
Loneliness and isolation among middle-aged and older adults are increasingly recognized as critical issues in Japanese society. This trend is driven by an increase in single-person households, changes in family structures in the era of 100-year lifespans, and the weakening of human connections.
As a matching app specifically for those aged 40 and over, Rasukoi has continuously accumulated the authentic voices of this generation.
Approximately 80% of registered users on Rasukoi have been married, and about 70% have experienced divorce. The fact that so many people wish to find a new partner after divorce or bereavement represents a new social reality that cannot be fully understood through the lens of 'konkatsu' aimed at younger generations.
Rasukoi is a service that enhances well-being in later life through finding a partner. At the same time, we daily receive feedback that the very sense of 'having companions who also seek encounters' alleviates feelings of loneliness and fosters a positive outlook on life among registered users.
The entire 'platform,' including the journey to forming a relationship, is becoming a social infrastructure that supports connections in later life.
To connect these realities of individuals with the broader context of Japanese society, such as declining marriage rates, falling birth rates, and increasing single-person households, reliable research insights from family sociology are indispensable. Collaboration with Professor Masahiro Yamada, who has long analyzed the transformations of Japanese families and lifestyles, is considered the most meaningful step in providing the Rasukoi's data on individuals aged 40 and over with the resolution needed for social discourse.
■ Comment from Professor Masahiro Yamada upon Appointment
It was in 2007 that I, along with Momoko Shirakawa, introduced the term 'konkatsu' (marriage hunting) to the world. At the time, while researching unmarried young people who lamented 'no good encounters,' I wanted to convey the fact that 'if you wait, you won't get married; you must actively seek encounters,' and thus coined the term, a shortened form of 'kekkon katsudo' (marriage activities).
Nearly 20 years have passed since then. While 'konkatsu' has become a common term, the perception that 'konkatsu is for young people' has been slow to change.
Currently, the number of single middle-aged and older adults is increasing in Japan. According to the 2020 national census, the proportion of single individuals (never married + divorced) in their 50s reached 35% for men and 30% for women. My current research on them reveals that many feel anxious about living alone in the future.
This is the era of 100-year lifespans. It's never too late to find a partner. Whether it's marriage or a relationship where you meet occasionally and enjoy each other's company, I believe that precisely because they are middle-aged and older, people can find a partner that suits their lifestyle.
I hope to be of some help in this endeavor.
■ Professor Masahiro Yamada Profile
Born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Letters, completed doctoral coursework at the Graduate School of Sociology at the same university. Currently a professor at Chuo University's Faculty of Letters. As a leading authority in family sociology, he is one of Japan's foremost sociologists, having researched the transformation of Japanese families, romance, and lifestyles for many years. He is also known for successively proposing concepts that capture the times, such as 'parasite singles,' 'disparity society,' and and 'konkatsu.'
Currently, he continues to research, disseminate information, and make policy recommendations on themes such as declining marriage rates, falling birth rates, increasing single-person households, and the ideal form of families and lifestyles in the era of 100-year lifespans.
He leads a wide range of social discussions through media appearances, publications, and lectures. His recent works include 'Tanshin Risk: How to Live in the '100-Year Era'' (Asahi Shinsho), among many others.
■ Comment from Rasukoi/Rasukon Research Institute
Rasukoi continuously accumulates the authentic voices of people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, which cannot be fully captured by 'konkatsu' services aimed at younger generations. These include restarting after divorce or bereavement, loneliness after raising children, and anxieties and hopes for the future. We are proud that these journeys of individuals represent valuable data unique to Rasukoi.
Rasukoi aims to create a society where everyone can live happily and authentically in later life through encounters and connections. To achieve this, we believe that both the voices of individuals and research insights that contextualize them within society are essential.
For many years...