These days, matching services and apps make it easy for anyone to sign up on a smartphone and meet people of the opposite sex efficiently.
On the other hand, some people may feel that if they are serious about finding a partner, they need to meet and talk in person to understand what that person is like.
But even if you want to attend a matchmaking party, it takes courage to actually take that first step, doesn't it?
An event that provides a place to meet people for shy people and reserved young people is held every year in Mizushima.
People from the Mizushima community take part as the “Mizukon Organizing Committee,” understanding how participants feel and supporting and encouraging them.
What kind of event is Mizukon Party, and how is it different from ordinary matchmaking events?
Mizukon Party was held recently, so here is a look at what it was like.
The information provided was current when this article was published in December 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Mizukon Party?
Mizukon Party is a matchmaking party held every year in Mizushima, commissioned by Kurashiki City as part of its matchmaking promotion program.
It has a long history, and the 2023 event marked its 12th edition.
The success rate for forming couples has exceeded 80% in some years, and many couples have gone on to marry.
About the Mizukon Organizing Committee
The event is organized by members of the Mizushima Revitalization Team, who came together to energize the Mizushima area and run the event as the organizing committee.
Their motto is to enjoy themselves to the fullest so that participants can have fun, and they have held detailed planning meetings in advance.
The committee is also supported by the Association for Considering Mizushima’s Future and the Mizushima Women’s Association, who advise on the curry-making activity and serve as judges on the day.
The pre-event meeting, “Otoko-juku”
What sets this event apart from other matchmaking parties is that, before the event, only the men gather for “Otoko-juku,” where they receive an explanation of the day’s program and learn what to keep in mind.
It was held at Mizushima Ai-ai Salon at 7 p.m. on the Friday exactly one week before Mizukon Party.
Despite the name Otoko-juku, it is not a formal or stiff meeting.
Mizushima Revitalization Team leader Ueda Mitsuhiko prepared materials based on his own experiences and information he gathered about society, and had open, informal conversations with the participants.
I was there too, and he spoke about things that seem obvious but are often overlooked, such as the expression you wear when making a first impression and your everyday gestures. From a woman’s perspective, I found myself nodding along in agreement.
Ueda explained why they hold Otoko-juku as follows:
“When the men get to know one another, they feel more at ease and can relax and talk with the women.
The goal is to form couples, but simply coming together for this event is already a meaningful connection, so let’s all enjoy Mizukon Party.”
The participants were initially tense and stiff, but Ueda’s friendly way of speaking helped them open up and leave smiling.
Mizukon Party day
Mizukon Party is held every year at Mizushima Ai-ai Salon.
What did the matchmaking event, which reached its 12th edition in 2023, involve, and how many couples were formed?
Here’s a look at what happened.
Preparing the venue
At 7 a.m. on the day of the event, members of the Mizushima Revitalization Team were already up early, putting up tents, procuring ingredients, and setting up the venue.
The 12th event in 2023 used the multipurpose hall and lawn area at Mizushima Ai-ai Salon.
After the tents were set up, members of the Mizushima Women’s Association and the organizing committee began laying out the ingredients, seasonings, cooking utensils, and other supplies needed to make curry.
Participant check-in
Check-in for Mizukon Party participants begins at 9 a.m.
People who had made a reservation online began arriving one after another.
After checking in, participants took a seat and, over coffee, looked through the profiles handed out that day.
As a way of greeting participants, staff from the Mizukon Organizing Committee asked about their hobbies, favorite things, and how they spend their days off, using the profiles as a guide and getting to know them better.
The participants seemed to have relaxed after chatting with the staff.
Anticipation for the party was building.
Introductions after the opening ceremony
With all the participants gathered, Mizukon Party was finally underway.
Participants moved to the adjoining venue as their names were called by the host.
There were 12 men and 11 women, aged 20 to 40.
The men and women sat separately, and after the opening ceremony came the self-introduction session.
Introducing yourself to people you have just met can be nerve-racking and embarrassing, and some people may find it hard to speak smoothly.
That’s where the hosts from the Mizushima Cheer Squad step in to offer support.
They introduce the participants while referring to what they learned in conversations before the self-introduction session.
- “I hear that [name] is a Hanshin Tigers fan. Is anyone else here a baseball fan?”
- “I hear that [name] enjoys outdoor activities. You have that in common, too.”
With the host leading the way, the atmosphere in the venue quickly became more relaxed.
Main Event: Making Curry
Once everyone had introduced themselves, the group moved outdoors, where the main event, making curry, began.
Making Curry in Groups
Participants sat in the chairs bearing the numbers written on their name tags, forming four groups, one for each tent (A through D).
It seems care was taken to make the number of men and women in each group roughly equal.
Curry Contest
Rather than simply making curry, the four teams, A through D, work together to prepare their dishes, then compare the flavors and have them judged.
A prize is also prepared for the winning team.
The judges are the four members of the Mizukon Organizing Committee, the event organizers.
They award points according to the judging criteria.
It seems that not only the curry’s flavor but also teamwork and how the leader assigns roles are taken into account.
First, each group chooses a leader. Once all the leaders have been selected, they play rock-paper-scissors, and the winning group gets to choose its ingredients first.
The leader who won rock-paper-scissors received applause from the group, and some teams were already getting excited.
Choosing Ingredients
Even when making curry, the ingredients can change its flavor.
The groups seem to be chatting animatedly as they decide what they would like and what they need.
There are three kinds of meat—beef, pork, and chicken—and the groups can claim them in the order they win at rock-paper-scissors.
There are also vegetables and fruit from the local company Kawamura Foods, as well as wine and a variety of other ingredients they wouldn’t normally use at home, so the participants look delighted.
Working Together to Make Curry
Time is limited, so they get straight to work.
Some chop vegetables, others fry the meat, and each group divides up the tasks, cooking while calling out to one another.
One man was particularly good at peeling apples.
Apparently, he had once worked part-time in the food service industry.
The groups work while chatting and laughing together.
The groups are using different kinds of meat, so their curries will probably taste different, too.
Some participants work in the food service industry, and some groups are making quite authentic curry.
At last, it seems the curry is ready.
I’m looking forward to finding out how it tastes.
The Judges Taste the Curry
Four curries, one from each group A through D, were brought to the judges’ table on paper plates.
The judges took their time savoring each one.
They said it was hard to choose because every group’s curry had its own distinctive flavor and was delicious.
The results were in: Group C was the clear winner.
Each member of the winning group received a gift of homemade baked treats from Milk Crown, a cafe and lunch spot in Mizushima, and everyone looked delighted.
Tasting Together
Then everyone got to taste the curry they had made together.
The participants first ate the curry their own group had made, then went around sampling a little of the curry made by the other groups.
I got to try some, too. The curry made with wine was very rich, with a flavor that made me want to have it again.
The curry made with plenty of mushrooms was creamy and delicious.
Every group made delicious curry with care.
It was memorable to see everyone smiling as they ate, convinced that the curry they had made themselves tasted best.
Free Time Indoors
After everyone had eaten their fill and taken a short break, they moved indoors.
Drinks from Okabe Coffee, a long-established Mizushima shop, were prepared inside.
Snacks were also set out on the tables, and participants chose their seats and chatted happily with the groups they had gotten to know.
Three-Minute PR Session
Then the second half of the event finally began: the three-minute PR session.
The venue had pairs of chairs placed together, like in musical chairs, and men and women were asked to sit together.
After three minutes, the men moved on to the next seats one after another.
The staff also thoughtfully placed the chairs side by side with space between them, rather than facing them toward each other.
Women and men have different perceptions of personal space, so arranging the chairs this way apparently helps everyone feel comfortable talking.
The three-minute conversations were held twice, with a break in between.
I wonder whether they got to have a deeper conversation with someone they were interested in.
Voting Time
After another free-time session, it was time to vote.
Participants wrote the names of the people they were interested in on their ballots.
The ballots were collected, and the staff tallied the votes.
Results Announcement
Everyone moved to the room where they had initially sat separately by gender and waited for the results.
It was a tense moment.
Amazingly, two couples were formed.
The two people in each couple came to the front and exchanged a few words of greeting.
After that, the staff drove them to Milk Crown, a cafe and lunch spot, where they enjoyed one-on-one cafe time.
The other participants held another free-time session while seeing the two couples off.
At this point, the staff told participants who had been interested in them, giving them another chance.
Then came the second voting session.
Here, too, two couples were formed.
Couples Head to a Nearby Cafe
The four couples rode in the shuttle vehicle to Milk Crown, a cafe and lunch spot in Mizushima.
The cafe treated them to cake and drinks, and although they had only about 30 minutes, they enjoyed their cafe time.
There were all kinds of couples, including those chatting with each other in a relaxed way and those who were still quite nervous.
The staff promptly encouraged them to exchange contact information, and that brought Mizukon Party to a close.
From the Writer
At Mizukon Party, working together to make curry meant that conversation arose naturally, creating an atmosphere where it was easy to relax and get to know one another.
Helping one another, taking turns, and getting a sense of each other's natural personalities are things you can only experience by coming to the venue and taking part in person.
Mizukon Party, run by local volunteers, felt like a warm, down-to-earth matchmaking event with a handmade feel.
Ueda Mitsuhiko, leader of the Mizushima Revitalization Team, says:
“Mizukon Party is held every year, so you can always try again.
Forming couples is wonderful, of course, but I’d also be happy if those who didn’t find a partner felt that they were glad they came to Mizukon Party, had a good time, and would like to come again.”
On December 16, 2023, the first-ever “Miracle Christmas BBQ (barbecue)” for people in their 40s to 60s is scheduled to be held.
The Mizushima Revitalization Team seems to have various other plans in the works, so if you’re interested, be sure to check them out.
12th Mizukon Party (Mizushima Matchmaking Party) Information
| Name | 12th Mizukon Party (Mizushima Matchmaking Party) |
|---|---|
| Date | Held November 5, 2023 |
| Location | 1 Mizushima Higashichidoricho, Kurashiki City |
| Participation fee (tax included) | Men: ¥6,000 Women: ¥2,000 |
| Website | Mizukon Peary website |
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