Farmer Toru Mizushima, 55, echoes statement.

“I don’t even go there as far as Mimasaka’s concerned,” he says. “I’ve lived in Mimasaka for 18 years, raised a family, and can tell you there just isn’t a singles scene — it’s a family-oriented town. That’s why we moved here in first place.”

It is, unfortunately, a common sentiment — in a community built primarily around families, finding ways for underrepresented single adults to mix and mingle can be a daunting task. When questioned about such opportunities, Yoshimi Tabata of Mimasaka Community Center just laughs.

“We have open-gym basketball and volleyball, both of which are cheap, co-ed and attract a younger crowd,” she notes. “But other than that….”

Yet while trendy bars, dance clubs and hip hangouts may still be exclusive domain of big city, Mimasaka residents shouldn’t lose heart — even out here, there remain a few local youths where age-old hunt for love continues.

For religiously inclined, a local temple can be a powerful tool for both meeting other singles and getting over shock of being single again due to death or now rising divorce. Endaiji Temple is currently in process of putting together a singles group, and Endaiji Taiko group, while not host to a group of its own, refers interested lay believers to Endaiji for Re-Singled and Singles in Aso.

At Endaiji, single Buddhist band together for a veritable treasure trove of networking opportunities. In addition to its “Bereavement” and “Divorce and Beyond” support groups, temple helps organize everything from singles dances to hikes, ikebana, tea ceremony, yakisoba socials to house-building trips for less fortunate in Vietnam.

With close to 20 events per month, not counting regular support-group meetings, singles clued in to goings-on at Endaiji can quickly find themselves with more fun, upbeat social opportunities than they know what to do with.

For nonreligious, things get a bit harder. While it’s always possible to take your chances with karaoke bar scene — Jet 5554 and Sukesan Izakaya appear to be generating most buzz — many singles prefer to take a more direct approach. That’s where Junichiro Komatsu and Pink Tomato Dating Service step in.

Pink Tomato Dating Service specializes in an activity more widely known as “speed dating,” is a simple concept. Working with between 15 and 30 adults matching a target age range and set of interests, events coordinators like Komatsu set up a series of up to a dozen six-minute-long “speed dates” at a local bar, café or restaurant.

Afterward, participants make note of any other individuals that interested them, with mutual interest resulting in both parties’ receiving others’ contact information, allowing them to set up their first “real” date. Of those who participate, over two-thirds receive at least one match.

“I’ve been doing this for over three years now, and I just love it,” says Komatsu, who ran first Mimasaka event in quite a while at now defunct Mimasaka cannery on June 7. Ultimately, Komatsu hopes to make Mimasaka sessions a monthly affair.

I cater to all men you just happen to think men are shallow for being men And if that's how you want to make a buck, I guess that's good for you. But all cynicism you are pandering to is just causing more cynicism to grow.

The cynicism is in your head. Cynicism is not derived from bringing a couple into happiness. There is also evidence of unfair bias against Colombian men mentioned in your website or your last correspondence, I can't remember where. But it says that these men are not desired by Colombian women because they drink and/or are unfaithful. I get that this is your angle; I mean you've got to put down American women and Colombian men to justify need for your business.

I do not put down Colombian men any differently than a football player saying to another football player from another team that we are going to win because we believe we are better football team. The quote you are referring to is from a Colombian woman. This is what many Colombian women think of Colombian men. I do not to create an "angle" when reality is ample promotion for business. The "need" is natural I can not create a need. You just do not like fact of American men seeking beautiful foreign women who are eager to meet quality American men But I believe that people are people, no matter where they come from or what they look like or how much money they have.

"People are people" only in broadest since. People are different and different places have different types of people and difference that American men have are desired by many foreign women. Stereotyping people based on sex or appearance or culture is hurtful and destructive.

I apply generalization where fitting. But there is no content to your charges of "stereotyping", "pandering", "put down" "cynicism", "shallow" these are just strong words in an empty shell. I probably won't be surprised if you comb over my letter thoroughly and get out your hair splitting devices and over-analyze every last semantic or grammatical nuance of my e-mail. I am not gifted at art of argument or even communication for that matter.

This is just an excuse for hiding behind sloppy reasoning and unsubstantiated concerns. You presented a case that was filled with falsehoods and you expect this to go unchallenged. I agree you have difficulty in art of debate and communications. However, this is due to your faulty thinking; it would be impossible for anyone to logically defend your position regardless of how well they communicated. Instead you attack and avoid any questioning that would distinctly define your position and likely contradictions. I asked you 20 questions and you failed to answer one single question. Yes, why answer any question that would make you look foolish for your beliefs. Doesn't matter that I answered every one of your questions to do same in return just doesn't come to mind even though I specifically requested that you do so so we could fully understand your position. I address only overall impression I gleaned from your website - that I find it derogatory - and documented abuses and anecdotal evidence that mail order bride industry is a sketchy one.

Your "impression" was void of facts. Whether or not you agree with anything I have written, you must admit that one unkind turn deserves another. That's only fair right?

Yes. You describe American women in unkind terms, even saying that we all think we're best or something like that.

I specifically said, "To attract premium American woman (and they all think their premium) requires you to be at top of your game." I would hardly call this as unkind this and three other sentences directly or indirectly referencing American women on website if anything is a praising. I find a strong self esteem, discriminating taste and complicated traits as positive features. I have made it very clear I do not care or need to insult American women to highlight other avenues for American men that may be to their liking. Why you object to men having this avenue is still unexplained. Then you show a picture of a table of young Colombian women "vying" for a customer's attention. And this is not degrading to Colombian women?