Japanese sexagenarians and above are re-tying the knot in increasing numbers, creating a boom as Boomers seek boom-boom, according to Shukan Asahi.
In 2006, there were three times more men and almost five times more women in their 60s and 70s who wed for at least the second time compared to two decades earlier.
"Middle-aged and elderly customers just keep on flooding in," Yoko Sakamoto, head of marriage matchmaking service Minorikai, tells Shukan Asahi.
Last summer, Sakamoto's association held the first ever matchmaking party for over-50s in its 27-year existence. Demand to attend was enormous, especially among women -- who outnumbered men two to one.
As society ages, more and more people are finding themselves alone, either through separation or death. They want to marry to enjoy what's left of their lives. Marriage is no longer just something for the young," she says.Junichi Ikeda, head of Ai Senior, another cupid service targeting older lonely hearts, sees the same trend.
"We've gone from strength to strength in the three years we've been operating," he says.
Ikeda says over 50s account for close on 20 percent of the entire matchmaking market. He has on his books 2,300 members in their 50s, 900 sexagenarians and another 300 who are 70-somethings, with even some in their 80s looking for a life partner.
Naomasa Saito, head of Taiyo no Kai, a group that organizes meetings between older people seeking partners, says the trend is a sign of changing times.
"Go back 10 years and everybody was worried about what everybody else would think," he says. "Now, thoughts have changed among the middle-aged and elderly, with people looking to start life afresh regardless of whatever anyone else may think."
Though many older Japanese are finding late-life happiness, wedding wrinklies can cause ripples.
"If both parties are in their twilight years, they can often be carrying a lot of baggage in terms of human relationships. Children can feel their parent's new partner is only gold-digging and there are a large number who oppose their elderly parents re-marrying," Masako Atsumi, a divorce lawyer specializing in older couples, tells Shukan Asahi. "Apart from money, the problem of caring for somebody in their old age also starts a lot of fights."
Atsumi recommends older couples to have a 3-year-long trial marriage to see whether they're happy with the deal and their relatives can come to terms with it.
Divorce advisor Hiromi Ikeuchi notes that marriage among the elderly can have its appeal.
"They don't have the drag that children can be and it's a pure love between two adults concerned only about each other. It's a wonderful union of man and woman that isn't possible in youth," she says before warning that effort is still needed to make wedlock work. "Anybody looking for a partner just to have somebody to do things for them is doomed to fail," she says.
Matchmaker for the elderly Saito agrees.
"I've found that it's pretty hard to set up a marriage for women who are only looking for someone to provide them with financial security and men who just want a partner who will take care of their needs," he says.
Still, marriage counselor Hiroshi Kondo welcomes the trend toward marriage among the elderly, saying the wisdom of age brings with it a key to marital bliss.
"Love means being able to care, respect and deal responsibly with a partner. Marriage doesn't mean an end to these things, but the start of a time to nurture love between couples," the marriage expert tells Shukan Asahi. "Young people tend to forget that. That gives marriage among the elderly the chance to display these things and serve as a model for us all."
By Ryann Connell
© Mainichi Newspapers Co. 1989-2007.