Recently, it seems that there are matching services and apps that allow anyone to easily register from their smartphones and efficiently meet potential partners.
On the other hand, some people may think that if you want to seriously find a partner, you need to meet and talk in person to understand their personality.
However, even if you want to participate in a marriage hunting party, it takes courage to actually take that first step.
Events that provide a place for encounters are held every year in Mizushima for those who are shy or hesitant.
The local people of Mizushima participate as "Mizukon Executive Committee" to support and encourage the participants.
What kind of event is the Mizukon party, and how is it different from regular marriage hunting events?
The Mizukon party was held recently, so I will introduce what it was like.
What is the Mizukon party?
The Mizukon party is a marriage hunting party held every year in Mizushima, commissioned as a marriage promotion project by Kurashiki City.
It has a long history and celebrated its 12th event in 2023.
The success rate of couples has exceeded 80% at times, and many couples have gotten married.
About the Mizukon Executive Committee
The event is organized by members of the Mizushima Excitement Team, who gathered to liven up the Mizushima area, serving as the executive committee.
To ensure participants have fun, they have meticulously prepared in advance with the motto of enjoying themselves to the fullest.
Additionally, members of the executive committee receive support from the Mizushima Future Thinking Group and the Mizushima Women’s Association, who provide advice on curry making and serve as judges on the day of the event.
Pre-event meeting "Men's School"
What makes this event different from other marriage hunting parties is that a meeting called "Men's School" is held before the event, where only men gather to learn about the day's program and tips.
This meeting took place on the Friday evening, exactly one week before the Mizukon party, at Mizushima Ai Ai Salon.
However, "Men's School" is not a stiff discussion.
Mizushima Excitement Team leader Mitsuhiko Ueda engages in casual conversation with participants based on materials he created from his own experiences and information gathered from society.
I also attended, and he spoke about first impressions and everyday gestures, which are often overlooked but are very relatable from a woman's perspective.
Regarding the reason for holding Men's School, Ueda said the following:
“When men become familiar with each other, they can relax and talk to women more easily.
The goal is to become couples, but gathering for this event itself is already a connection, so let’s all enjoy the Mizukon party together.”
At first, the participants were tense and stiff, but by the end, they opened up and left with smiles thanks to Ueda's friendly speaking style.
Mizukon party day
The Mizukon party is held every year at Mizushima Ai Ai Salon.
What kind of content did the 12th marriage hunting event held in 2023 have, and how many couples were formed?
Let me introduce what it was like.
Venue preparation
On the day of the event, at 7 AM, members of the Mizushima Excitement Team begin setting up tents, procuring ingredients, and preparing the venue.
The 12th event in 2023 will use the multipurpose hall and lawn square of Mizushima Ai Ai Salon.
After the tents are set up, members of the Mizushima Women's Association and executive committee staff begin laying out the ingredients, seasonings, and cooking utensils needed for curry making.
Participant registration
Registration for the Mizukon party starts at 9 AM.
People who made reservations online in advance begin to arrive one after another.
After completing registration, participants sit at available seats and read through the profiles of other participants while enjoying coffee.
Staff from the Mizukon Executive Committee greet participants and ask about their hobbies, favorite things, and how they spend their holidays while looking at their profiles, deepening the interaction.
Participants seem to relax as they converse with the staff.
Anticipation for the party is building.
Self-introduction after the opening ceremony
With all participants gathered, the Mizukon party is about to begin.
Participants are called by name by the host and move to the adjacent venue.
There are 12 men in their 20s to 40s and 11 women.
After separating into men and women, the opening ceremony is followed by a self-introduction time.
A sudden self-introduction upon first meeting can be nerve-wracking and embarrassing, making it difficult for some people to speak well.
Therefore, the host from the Mizushima Cheer Squad will provide support.
Before the self-introduction time, they will confirm the information gathered and introduce the participants.
- “It seems that Mr. ○○ is a Hanshin fan. Is there anyone here who likes baseball?”
- “It seems that Mr. ○○ has a hobby of outdoor activities. You are the same, right, Mr. ○○?”
With the host leading, the atmosphere in the venue quickly became relaxed.
Main Event: Curry Making
Once the self-introductions are complete, the next step is to move outdoors and start the main event of curry making.
Curry Making in Groups
Participants sat in chairs marked with numbers on their name tags, forming four groups (A to D) under the tents.
It seems that care was taken to ensure that the number of men and women was roughly equal.
Curry Championship
Not only will they make curry, but the four groups (A to D) will also collaborate to taste and judge the curry they created.
A gift is also prepared for the winning team.
The judges will be four members of the Mizukon Executive Committee, the event's organizers.
They will score based on the judging criteria.
It seems that not only the taste of the curry but also teamwork and the division of roles among leaders will be evaluated.
First, they will decide on a leader within each group, and once the leaders are chosen, they will play rock-paper-scissors to allow the winning group to select ingredients.
The leader who wins rock-paper-scissors receives applause from the members, and it seems that some groups are already getting excited.
Choosing Ingredients
When making curry, the taste can change depending on the ingredients.
It seems that the groups are lively discussing what they want and need.
There are three types of meat: beef, pork, and chicken, which can be obtained by the group that wins rock-paper-scissors.
Additionally, various ingredients that are not typically used at home, such as vegetables and fruits from the local company Kawamura Foods, as well as wine, are available, making the participants seem very excited.
Collaborative Curry Making
With limited time, they quickly get to work.
In each group, there are people cutting vegetables and others frying meat, each taking on roles and communicating with each other as they cook.
There was even a man who was skilled at peeling apples.
He mentioned that he used to work part-time in the food industry.
Each group was happily chatting while working together.
The type of meat varies by group, so the taste will likely differ as well.
Some participants work in the food industry, and there are groups that are making authentic curry.
It seems that the curry is finally complete.
I am looking forward to tasting it.
Tasting by the Judges
On the judges' table, four curries from groups A to D were brought in paper plates.
The judges are slowly savoring each one.
Each group's curry has its own unique flavor and is delicious, making it difficult to choose.
The results of the judging revealed that Group C was the impressive winner.
The winning group received handmade baked goods as a gift from the Mizushima café and lunch shop Milk Crown, and everyone looked very happy.
Tasting Time for Everyone
Then, everyone tasted the curry they made together.
Participants first ate the curry they made, and then they went around tasting a little bit of the curry made by other groups.
I also had a taste, and the curry with wine was very rich, making me want to eat it several times.
The curry that used plenty of mushrooms was creamy and delicious.
Every group made delicious curry with heart.
It was impressive to see them smiling while saying that the curry they made themselves was the best.
Moving Indoors for Free Time
After filling up, they took a short break and then moved indoors.
Inside, drinks from Mizushima's long-established Okabe Coffee were prepared.
Snacks were also placed on the table, allowing participants to sit wherever they liked and chat happily with the groups they had gotten to know.
3-Minute PR Time
Finally, the second half of the event, 3-Minute PR Time, begins.
In the venue, chairs are arranged in pairs like a musical chairs game, and participants are seated by gender.
After three minutes, the men will move to the next seat one by one.
The chairs are not facing each other but are arranged with space in between, showing consideration from the staff.
Since the personal space perceptions of women and men differ, this arrangement allows for comfortable conversation.
The 3-minute talk was conducted twice with a break in between.
I wonder if they were able to have deep conversations with the people they were interested in.
Voting Time
This is the voting time after the free time.
On the voting sheet, participants write down their preferences.
The voting sheets are collected, and the staff will tally the results.
Results Announcement
First, we move to the area where participants are seated separately by gender and wait for the results to be announced.
It's a moment of tension.
Surprisingly, two couples were formed.
The two who became a couple come forward and greet each other with a few words.
After this, they will move to the café and lunch shop "Milk Crown" in the staff's car to enjoy café time with two shots.
The other participants will hold another free time while seeing off the two couples.
At this time, the staff will inform the participants who expressed interest in them, creating another opportunity.
Then, the second voting time.
Here as well, two couples were formed.
Couples Head to a Nearby Café
The four couples who were transported by the shuttle car moved to the café and lunch shop "Milk Crown" in Mizushima.
The shop's cake and drinks were presented, and although it was just a short time of about 30 minutes, they enjoyed café time.
Couples talking with a relaxed feeling and couples still feeling nervous were present.
The staff promptly encouraged the exchange of contact information, and this is where the Mizukon party concludes.
Conclusion
The Mizukon party created a natural atmosphere for conversation through collaborative activities like curry making, making it easier for participants to bond.
Helping each other, being considerate, and being able to see each other's true personalities can only be understood by actually coming to the venue and participating.
The Mizukon party, operated by local volunteers, felt like a warm and human-centered marriage activity event full of handmade charm.
Mitsuhiko Ueda, the leader of the Mizushima Promotion Team, said the following:
“The Mizukon party is held every year, so there is a chance for a comeback.
While forming couples is certainly wonderful, I would be happy if those who couldn't become couples felt that it was good to come to the Mizukon party, that it was fun, and that they want to come again.”
On December 16, 2023, the first "Miracle Christmas BBQ" targeting those in their 40s to 60s is scheduled to be held.
The Mizushima Promotion Team seems to be planning various projects in the future, so if you're interested, please check it out.
Data for the 12th Mizukon Party (Mizushima Marriage Activity Party)
| Name | 12th Mizukon Party (Mizushima Marriage Activity Party) |
|---|---|
| Date | Held on November 5, 2023 |
| Location | 1 Higashichidori-cho, Mizushima, Kurashiki City |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 6,000 yen for men, 2,000 yen for women |
| Website | Mizukon Party HP |
