"You're Married?" Japanese Court Orders Man Who Lied About Being Single to Pay Damages

A Japanese court has ordered a man in his 30s to pay compensation for dating a woman while pretending to be single despite being married, after meeting her on a dating app.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on Tuesday, July 21, the Nagoya District Court ruled in favor of a 35-year-old woman in a damages lawsuit filed against a 38-year-old man, ordering him to pay 1.21 million yen (approximately 11 million won).

The court stated, "The plaintiff suffered deep emotional wounds and severe mental distress after her trust was betrayed," adding, "The defendant continued a relationship that included sexual intercourse while indicating to the plaintiff and her family that he had the intention to marry her in the future."

The plaintiff met the man on a dating app for people looking for marriage partners in April 2023. She began dating him in May of that year, believing his claim that he was divorced and currently single.

The two dated for about one year and three months, during which they prepared marriage registration documents and bought couple rings, and also engaged in sexual relations.

However, in August 2024, it was revealed that the man was still married. The woman filed a lawsuit in June 2025 seeking 3.3 million yen in damages, claiming that her right to sexual self-determination had been violated and that she had suffered mental harm.

While the man admitted to lying about being single, he argued that there had been no concrete discussions about marriage. The court, however, did not accept his argument.

After the ruling, the plaintiff said, "I am relieved that it was recognized as an illegal act, but I feel that 1.21 million yen as the price for ruining my life treats the damage too lightly."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.