Raskoi Co., Ltd. (Isaac Group / Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / CEO: Kosei Yamaguchi), which operates "Raskoi," a matching app that connects people through life experiences, conducted a "Survey on the Actual Conditions of Dating for Middle-Aged and Seniors" targeting 516 Raskoi users aged 40 and over in June 2026.

The survey found that 90.7% of people aged 40-70 responded that "physical affection with a partner or lover is still important," and 75.4% believe that "regardless of age, they want to continue physical affection forever." On the other hand, when asked about the extent of physical affection considered acceptable before officially dating, there was a significant difference between men and women. While 40.1% of men answered "staying overnight is acceptable if feelings are mutual," only 10.4% of women did.

Survey Overview

Survey Name

Survey on the Actual Conditions of Dating for Middle-Aged and Seniors

Survey Period

June 5, 2026 (Fri) - June 7, 2026 (Sun)

Target Audience

516 users aged 40-70

Survey Method

In-app questionnaire on "Raskoi"

Survey Results (Summary)

- 90.7% of people aged 40-70 responded that "physical affection is still important."

- "Very important" accounted for 69.2%, and "somewhat important" accounted for 21.5% (total 90.7%).

- 98.0% of men and 87.6% of women responded that it is "important (very important + somewhat important)."

- 3 out of 4 people want to "continue physical affection with their partner forever, regardless of age."

- "Regardless of age, forever" was the most common answer at 75.4%.

- 80.9% in their 40s, 76.9% in their 50s, and 68.4% in their 60s all emphasized the importance of physical affection across all age groups.

- Regarding the level of intimacy before dating, it varies by person, with "not holding hands at all" being the most common at 33.5%.

- "Up to holding hands" followed at 28.9%, and "staying overnight if feelings are mutual" at 19.2%.

- Regardless of age group, about 1 in 3 people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s responded "not holding hands at all."

- Views on physical affection before dating are opposite between men and women.

- "Staying overnight is acceptable" was 40.1% for men compared to 10.4% for women.

- "Not holding hands at all before dating" was 41.2% for women compared to 15.1% for men.

Survey Background

Physical affection is an act that allows people to feel connected, even as they age, and in recent years, its effects in bringing a sense of security and happiness have become widely known. However, the true feelings of people aged 40 and over, who have accumulated life experience, regarding physical contact before and after dating have not been fully discussed until now.

The Raskoi/Raskon Research Institute has previously visualized the real dating perspectives of middle-aged and seniors, such as choosing a restaurant for a first date and paying the bill. In a recently released survey on payment (Note 1), gender and marital status differences emerged in views on payment, but will more pronounced differences be seen in physical intimacy?

This survey was conducted to clarify what people aged 40 and over value regarding physical affection before and after dating, and what level they feel comfortable with.

Note 1: Source "Survey on the Actual Conditions of Dating for Middle-Aged and Seniors (2026) - Announcement on First Date Payment" Raskoi Co., Ltd.

Survey Results (Detailed)

[1] 90% Say "Physical Affection is Still Important," Age Doesn't Matter

When asked, "Do you think physical affection with a partner or lover is still important?" 69.2% answered "very important" and 21.5% answered "somewhat important," for a total of 90.7% who said it is "important." It seems that the desire to value physical contact does not change even as people age.

Free responses also included voices expressing the importance of this.

"Physical affection was frequent during our relationship, but as soon as we started living together, it stopped completely. I thought physical affection was very important to me." (Kanagawa Prefecture / 50s / Female)

The loneliness from the decrease in physical affection with the person by one's side also highlights its importance. Separately by gender, 98.0% of men and 87.6% of women responded that it is "important," with a particularly high tendency among men.

To the question, "Until what age do you want to have physical affection with your lover?" "Regardless of age, forever" was the most common answer at 75.4%, with 3 out of 4 people wanting to continue physical contact without age restrictions. By age group, those in their 40s were 80.9% and those in their 60s were 68.4%, suggesting a tendency for younger generations to be less conscious of age.

In fact, there were voices of people who met someone they could hold hands with at an older age.

"I met someone I wanted to hold hands with at 65, on our second lunch date. After that, we had a few more dates, and I enjoyed walking around town holding arms!" (Aichi Prefecture / 60s / Female)

Age does not seem to be a barrier to new encounters or excitement.

[2] Intimacy Level Before Dating is Opposite Between Men and Women

When asked, "What level of physical affection is acceptable before officially dating?" the overall most common answer was "not holding hands at all before dating" at 33.5%, followed by "up to holding hands" at 28.9%, and "staying overnight if feelings are mutual" at 19.2%. "Up to arm-holding/hugging" was 13.6%, and "up to kissing" was 4.8%.

The gender difference is noteworthy. While 40.1% of men answered "staying overnight is acceptable if feelings are mutual," only 10.4% of women did. Conversely, 41.2% of women answered "not holding hands at all before dating," significantly higher than the 15.1% of men.

Even in the same situation of "before dating," men tend to think about going further if feelings are mutual, while women tend to be cautious, revealing contrasting true feelings.

Free responses frankly discussed experiences of such misunderstandings.

"I think physical affection comes after dating a few times and both parties want to be in a relationship. There have been many times when relationships didn't form due to this difference in thinking." (Osaka Prefecture / 60s / Female)

"I was asked to hold hands when I wasn't very excited on the first meeting. I refused because I was embarrassed." (Kyoto Prefecture / 50s / Male)

These indicate that differences in the pace of approaching physical contact are becoming stumbling blocks in encounters.

[3] What Divides Caution is Life Experience, Not Age Group

There was almost no difference in caution before dating by age group. The proportion of respondents who answered "not holding hands at all before dating" was 33.6% for those in their 40s, 32.7% for those in their 50s, and 36.8% for those in their 60s, with about one in three in each generation.

It doesn't seem to be a simple pattern of becoming more liberal or cautious with age.

Instead, differences appeared in marital history. The proportion of respondents who answered "not holding hands at all before dating" was higher among those who had experienced bereavement at 47.4%, followed by those who had experienced divorce at 33.0% and those who were unmarried at 30.9%. The experience of seeing off a precious person may influence the way they approach distance in their next relationship.

[4] The Key to Overcoming Misunderstandings is "Dialogue" Beyond Physical Contact

Regarding past misunderstandings related to physical affection, responses included feelings of confusion due to differences in intimacy levels, as well as hints for overcoming them.

"He was probably the type who wanted to have physical contact every time, but I tended to avoid it because I'm not good at it." (Tokyo / 40s / Female)

"If you keep refusing your partner's requests, it will lead to a breakup. Both men and women!" (Tokyo / 50s / Male)

"Sometimes, as physical affection gradually decreases, people break up without confirming their feelings. Therefore, I think talking is important." (Fukuoka / 50s / Female)

As the comfort of physical contact varies from person to person, confirming each other's feelings through words seems to be a support for continuing the relationship.

Raskoi/Raskon Research Institute Comment

What was impressive in this survey was that while 90% answered "physical affection is important," when it came to intimacy before dating, men and women showed opposite true feelings. Many men think about going further if feelings are mutual, while many women pause. This difference in temperature seems to be common across generations.

The tendency for those who have experienced bereavement to be more cautious about intimacy before dating reflects the weight of time spent having lost a precious person.

In love for middle-aged and seniors, it is essential to imagine what experiences the other person has gone through rather than acting on impulse, and to align the pace of physical contact. The voice in the free responses, "Talking is important," hits the core of this.

The desire for physical contact does not change with age. Therefore, Raskoi will continue to support love in the latter half of life by helping people find their own distance while confirming differences in comfort through words.

About "Raskoi"

"Raskoi" is a dating and matchmaking app for people aged 40 and over. It provides a safe and secure environment for "lifelong active generations" with diverse life experiences, such as divorce, remarriage, and raising children, to meet. It is used mainly by people in their 40s and 50s, as well as those in their 60s and older, and boasts an extremely high matching rate of 97% (Note *) within one month of registration.

It is equipped with features that allow adults new to matching apps to use it without hesitation, such as "photo shooting support" and "topic recommendations" utilizing proprietary AI. It is chosen by positive individuals who want to enjoy life from now on, regardless of age.

* Based on data from the Kanto region. Excludes users who discontinued use within 2 days of registration.

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About Raskoi/Raskon Research Institute

The "Raskoi/Raskon Research Institute" is a specialized organization that interprets and disseminates the realities of romance and marriage hunting for people aged 40 and over, based on both data and voices. With Professor Masahiro Yamada of Chuo University, the proponent of "konkatsu" (marriage hunting), as special advisor, it delivers the reality of romance, life, and happiness for middle-aged and seniors to society through regular surveys, interviews, and collection of experience stories.

Raskoi/Raskon Research Institute

Raskoi Co., Ltd. Overview

With the mission "To create a society where the freedom and excitement of love are open to everyone," we operate "Raskoi," a matching service for people aged 40 and over.

Having been involved in the matching app business for over 10 years as a group, Raskoi has established a secure and safe operational system by obtaining "IMS Certification" (acquired in March 2026) and ISMS certification, which are third-party reviews and certifications of matching app quality and reliability.

As a regular member B of the Japan Association of Romance and Marriage Matching Apps (DMMA), we are actively working to promote the healthy development of the industry and create a safe and secure user environment.

Company Name: Raskoi Co., Ltd.

CEO: Kosei Yamaguchi

Location: 2F Fujiwara Building, 1-10-1 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021

Website: https://laskoi.jp/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果