Many singles may prefer to leave it up to fate to find their significant other, but experts are saying those who elect to wait for "the one" may never make it to the altar.
Two sociologists recently coined the phrase "kon-katsu" (marriage hunting) in a bid to encourage singles to pursue marriage strategically. They hope this results in more marriages, and, ultimately, a reversal in Japan's declining birthrate.
The media spread the phrase last year and it soon became popular, resulting in a nomination for the 2008 "U-Can shingo ryukogo taisho" award for new popular words.
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