Why are almost half of Japan's millennials still virgins?

[Xiaoshu]

By Emiko Jozuka and Will Ripley, CNN

Updated 0802 GMT (1602 HKT) September 20, 2016

 

 

 

Tokyo (CNN) Japanese millennials just aren't having sex.

 

That's according to a government survey published last week, claiming that 42% of men and 44.2% of women -- almost half of Japan's millennial singles aged between 18 to 34 -- are virgins.

While some prefer it that way, others would like their fortunes to change, with 85.7% of men and 89.3% of women harboring hopes of marriage in the future. The survey did not look at same-sex partners.

 

Japan's lack of interest in sex is blamed on everything from a stagnant economy to Japanese manga fans favoring fantasy over reality.

 

Changing social norms

 

 

The latest government survey found that 42 % of men aged between 18 to 34 were still virgins.

Japan has one of the world's lowest birthrates and is home to a severely aging population, with a recent survey finding 34.6 million Japanese aged over 65.

 

But despite, the government's attempts to boost the number of marriages and children, this year's survey results from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, don't reveal a swerve in the right direction.

 

Nancy Snow, a professor of public diplomacy from the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, told CNN that changing social and economic norms contributed to the decrease in relationships between men and women.

"Men are making about a third to half of what they used to make during Japan's economic boom years in the 1980s. Some men's sense of self is tied to their salary and they feel threatened by women who are empowering themselves," said Snow.

 

She explained that the income decrease made men in Japan feel less confident in attracting Japan's increasingly successful class of women, who have become used to earning their own money and putting themselves first.

 

"While men are going from a cradle to grave trajectory, there are a lot of professional women with disposable incomes, who think that marriage might not just be worth it," said Snow.

 

'Solving the virgin problem'

 

 

There are support groups for men who want to overcome their anxiety of approaching women.

White Hands, a Tokyo-based non-profit offers regular nude art classes, where mostly middle-aged men sketch naked female models. The classes, complete with textbooks, also try to help people feel more comfortable with their sexuality.

 

Class organizer Shingo Sakatsume, who calls himself a "sex helper," understands how growing interest in the fantasy world of anime is leading single men to choose entertainment over real love and sex.

 

"By solving the virgin problem, I think we can solve many other problems related to sex," Sakatsume, told CNN in 2015.

 

Snow asserted that such nude art classes could potentially be more helpful if there were also women on hand to draw naked male models.

 

"Here's an opportunity to bring men and women together -- they could have wine to break the ice and communicate more," said Snow. "To just make it men looking at a female model perpetuates the problem."

 

Is 35 the new 25?

 

Though the Japanese population is aging at a breakneck speed, Snow said that the latest survey only looked at young people as data sets and didn't take into account their specific stories or circumstances.

 

"If you're living until you're 90, then putting off having a dating partner till your thirties until you've found yourself might seem rational -- there's a lot more self-exploration going on," said Snow.

 

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/20/asia/japanese-millennials-virgins/index.html?iid=ob_lockedrail_bottomlist

 

 

 

 

[KUMA-MON]

A N I M was a mistake

 

 

jk (maybe.. )

[PepeMeme]

I believe this is a misleading statistic that has been going around. I think it is actually related to marriage or something.

[Dovah Bitch]

 

 

42% of men and 44.2% of women -- almost half of Japan's millennial singles aged between 18 to 34 -- are virgins

 

This is shocking

[nicophos]

add pornography setting high standards to people. anime too. they should invite foreigners for diversity i guess? 
 

[PsychoLotus]

Interesting maybe they need to start focusing on the younger teens more...

[PepeMeme]

according to the original publication, it's 42% of men and 44.2% of women aged 18-34 who have never been married.

 

It's a miss translation and horrible reporting by CNN

[Hainan Chicken]

I don't think the the skimp out on them not having been married makes any impact on the big picture of the article. The prime ages where people are suppose to be having children are not having them or even bothering with the opposite sex is worrisome considering Japan's problem with their aging population. Someone has to pay for all those retirement funds. 

[PepeMeme]

I don't think the the skimp out on them not having been married makes any impact on the big picture of the article. The prime ages where people are suppose to be having children are not having them or even bothering with the opposite sex is worrisome considering Japan's problem with their aging population. Someone has to pay for all those retirement funds. 

I'm still gonna call out CNN for their shitty journalism

[You Need Some Milk]

Blame hentai and otome games lmao

[Trixbox]

It's because of work. Not everyone have time for parties and mingling if you have deadlines every day to meet.

 

It's toxic to work in japan.

[CandyLand]

embarrassing.

[Jeffrey Jung]

A N I M was a mistake

 

 

jk (maybe.. )

not completely wrong tbh

[mochichan]

Alot of people are overworked or over stressed from schools that they don't have time to meet other people to date so many put that kind of energy into pursuing hobbies like anime since it's easier to build a dream "relationship" without difficulties or fighting. People blame anime for this too but really it's more of a result from other bigger factors

 

They need to change their mindset about their workaholic culture and how working women are treated. To this day women there are still expected to quit their jobs if they become mom so it's hard for them to want to start a family and give up their independent

[Mako Yagami]

I have been keeping an eye out for this issue for a good while and honestly its a culmination of various things. Blaiming it on anime/manga only is an easy excuse for people to make who aren't even interested in those things.

 

Its large umbrella of issues steming from their own strict immigration policy, outdated cultural practices, and strict economic/corporate office culture. Obviously anime/manga has some negative effects on those millennials but its only part of the problem, not the whole problem.

 

Anthony Bourdain went to Japan last year as part of his show Parts Unknown. They briefly talk about this problem. Some of the answers given by the people asked were very interesting. There's also documentaries dedicated to this problem on Youtube.

[DocumentaLy]

I'm glad that someone focused on the real issue: the economy.

 

 

I have been keeping an eye out for this issue for a good while and honestly its a culmination of various things. Blaiming it on anime/manga only is an easy excuse for people to make who aren't even interested in those things.

 

Its large umbrella of issues steming from their own strict immigration policy, outdated cultural practices, and strict economic/corporate office culture. Obviously anime/manga has some negative effects on those millennials but its only part of the problem, not the whole problem.

 

Anthony Bourdain went to Japan last year as part of his show Parts Unknown. They briefly talk about this problem. Some of the answers given by the people asked were very interesting. There's also documentaries dedicated to this problem on Youtube.

 

Otaku culture isn't the cause, it's a result.