Meet the Japanese Dating App Creator Looking to Break Social Barriers

Dating apps in Japan have struggled with a reputation for superficiality, often seen as digital hook-up platforms rather than genuine social tools. However, BeMatch is striving to change this narrative. 

The app was born from a shower thought of Satoya Hatanaka, a 22-year-old visionary. Hatanaka envisioned blending the spontaneity of BeReal, an app promoting unedited, spur-of-the-moment photos, with the depth of a social network. 

The app received glowing initial feedback, with users praising its unique fusion of social networking and dating features.

BeMatch is a hybrid social networking app that allows users to find friends, romantic partners, and community connections all in one place. It centers around the concept of exchanging BeReals, photos taken within a two-minute window using both front and back cameras, which disappear after 24 hours. 

This approach fosters authentic, real-time connections, countering the curated perfection of traditional social media. BeMatch’s interface, similar to Tinder, enables users to swipe and like BeReals of potential matches. If both parties like each other, they can exchange their BeReals, significantly reducing the risk of encountering fake profiles and promoting genuine interactions.

BeMatch is challenging the stigma associated with online dating in Japan by emphasizing genuine connections and friendships. Positioning itself as a friend-making platform, it breaks down barriers and changes perceptions, offering a vibrant, open community for its users. 

Approximately 30% of its matches are same-sex, highlighting its commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Hatanaka, reflecting on his generation’s needs, aims to create a space that encourages real, unforced friendships, breaking away from traditional social dynamics in Japan.

Hatanaka’s vision for BeMatch extends beyond Japan, with plans to expand into the US and France, aiming to introduce a new paradigm in social networking that seamlessly blends friendship and dating. 

Alongside BeMatch, the team has launched Trinket, another app focused on sharing genuine moments with friends. These efforts represent a challenge to Japan’s conservative social norms, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of social networking by emphasizing authenticity, inclusivity, and real-time engagement.