It was a genuinely joyful weekend.

Hi, I’m Naoko Matsumoto, founder of Traditional Japanese Matchmaker. On August 22nd, we held our Los Angeles event, and I want to tell you honestly how it went — results and all.

Most of what we do happens online: messages, video calls, screens. There’s real value in that. But nothing quite replaces sitting across from someone, in the same room, sharing the same moment. That kind of connection is rare, and it’s exactly what this weekend gave us.

Afterward, so many of you told me “thank you,” that it was a wonderful experience. Hearing that meant more to me than I can say. Making space for real, in-person time with people we usually only know through a screen isn’t something most matchmaking services bother to do.

For us, it’s the whole point.

What Happened in LA

We held the event in Torrance, one of the most Japanese neighborhoods in Los Angeles, split into two sessions by age.

Session 1 (men 46+, women 40+): 11 men, 11 women
Session 2 (men 45 and under, women 39 and under): 11 men, 10 women

What struck me most was how far people traveled to be there. This was Los Angeles, but attendees came from both coasts and everywhere in between — some flew in from other states, some drove for hours, and a few women flew all the way from Japan. To everyone who traveled that far: thank you.

How the Speed Dating Worked

Every attendee met every opposite-sex participant for five minutes each. Five minutes isn’t long, but between the gaps in the schedule, the mingling time, and the after-party, anyone who hit it off had plenty of chances to keep talking.

The Results

After the sessions, each person chose the three people they’d most like to see again. Our official matches — where both people chose each other — came to 8 pairs in Session 1 and 8 pairs in Session 2.

We also track one-sided interest. If someone was chosen but didn’t choose back, we let that person know. From there, reaching out is entirely their choice.

How This Was Different From Last Year

In 2025, we hosted a BBQ at the home of a couple who met and married through TJM, pool included. It was social, playful, full of games, and the feedback was wonderful. But there were no age divisions and no structured matching, so what happened after the party was entirely up to the people who met there.

Los Angeles Poolside BBQ Matchmaking Event Report Beyond “That was fun!” — Turning your international marriage dream into reality

This year, splitting sessions by age and running a real speed-dating format gave everyone dedicated time to actually talk. We sent out official match results and personally handled introductions between matched pairs. The purpose was clear: this event existed to create marriage-minded connections, not just a fun afternoon.

When the purpose is clear, the outcome is clear too. Instead of ending with “that was fun,” people left with an actual next step.

Where We Can Improve

I want to be honest about what didn’t work perfectly.

Splitting sessions strictly by age — 46 for men, 40 for women — created real drawbacks. A man in his late 40s or 50s who is clear about wanting children was placed in a session where that might not align with most participants. Meanwhile, a 43-year-old woman who had frozen her eggs and very much wanted children was placed in Session 1 by age, alongside men whose children were already grown and who weren’t looking to start a family again.

For our next speed dating event, I’m considering splitting by whether someone wants children, rather than by age alone. The after-party, at least, included everyone from both sessions together, so there was still a chance to connect across ages there.

I’d Love to Hear From You

Which approach do you think works best?

✅Splitting by age
✅Splitting by whether someone wants children, regardless of age
✅No splitting at all, like our 2025 BBQ

If you attended this event, or you’re thinking about joining a future one, I’d genuinely love your honest feedback.

What’s Next

Our next event is in Tokyo on November 7th. Seats are limited, so if you’re interested, please reach out early — the sooner you let us know, the better we can plan for you.

Singles, I’ll see you in Tokyo.

With warmth,

Naoko Matsumoto (まつもとなおこ）
FOUNDER & CEO
Traditional Japanese Matchmaker

Traditional Japanese Matchmaker is the best dating and matchmaking service that is specialized for single international professionals and Japanese women established in 1999. Please click the link below to get started with TJM’s Free Registration if you are truly interested. We look forward to assisting you in finding your Japanese wife.

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