Why Japanese Dating Checklists Are So Intense

That dating checklist for the perfect partner? A Japanese manga artist says it's just anxiety in disguise.

The List

You’ve probably seen it. The dating profile that reads less like a human and more like a spec sheet for a new car. A recent manga, 'Unmei nado Sonzai Shinai no de' (roughly, 'Since Fate Doesn't Exist'), dives right into this, and it’s hitting a nerve here.

The story follows a rookie advisor at a marriage-hunting agency who is baffled by his clients' demands. Women come in with lists like: