Japanese men wear masks on dates

A matchmaking company in Japan decided to have its candidates wear masks on dates, hoping they would open up to each other more.

Couples participate in speed dating organized by the companyDef Anniversary (based in Tokyo) will wear medical masks to reduce the pressure of face-to-face meetings, and help participants focus on each other's personalities, rather than being dominated by appearance.

According to Reuters, this solution helped participants feel more comfortable and they found themselves more open.

Photo: Reuters.

Yasumasu Kishi, 28, attended such a speed-dating event on a recent weekend, with 19 men and 18 women. "Because I'm not judged on my appearance, I think I can be more open with women," he said.

Chiharu Tsukahara, a 28-year-old office worker, agreed, adding that she was prepared to have a private meeting withKishi and two friends on another date.

Dating services are booming in Japan, as young people shy away from marriage. The marriage rate has fallen by 50% over the past 40 years.

According to VNE