A popular format for variety specials is the omiai, bringing together single men and women for the purpose of making couples. Often the stated goal is nothing more than dating, but of course the ultimate goal is matrimony.
Over the years, these kinds of specials have become more specialized. Potential wives are solicited for lonely farmers, and potential husbands are collected for middle-aged spinsters.
On tonight's "Sunday Special" (TV Tokyo, 7 p.m.), the matchmaking theme is gyaku-tama. Gyaku means "reverse," and tama is taken from the phrase tama no koshi, which refers to a poor woman marrying a rich man. In other words, what we have here is poor men looking for rich wives.