For Japan's young singles, romance has become a corporate endeavor. Young adults are flocking to marriage agencies at record rates, preferring professional matchmakers over organic dating apps. Services like IBJ promise a fast track to marriage, charging premium fees for efficiency.

Taizen Yasuda, 28, joined IBJ after growing frustrated with algorithm-driven romance on dating apps. He appreciated the hands-on human guidance and feedback filtered through his counselor. IBJ, a Tokyo-based giant, has positioned itself at the center of this trend.

With a nationwide network, the company claims a hand in roughly one of every 25 marriages in Japan. The practice is resurging as Japan grapples with a shrinking population and encourages more people to wed to boost its birthrate. Every member is assigned a consultant who micromanages the courtship process.

Consultants advise on grooming, messaging etiquette, and date itineraries. When two members match, their consultants work in tandem, exchanging and filtering post-date feedback. Shigeru Ishizaka, IBJ's chief executive, stated the company provides the kind of support only humans can offer to help people marry quickly.

On a recent Sunday, Yasuda sat across from his counselor in a quiet consultation room, clad in a pressed suit. Over a month after joining, he had narrowed his prospects to two women and had taken one on a weekend drive to see yellow canola blooms.