West London Girl

WLG on Japan’s virgins and the modern world

October
27

One of my colleagues is looking for a “winter boyfriend only"

The Japanese are in decline. Literally. About 1.3 million Japanese died last year, but only a million were born. We’ve been hearing about this for a while yet the results of a recent survey of 18 to 34-year-olds by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research still proves shocking: 42 per cent of single young men and 44 per cent of single young women are virgins.

Admittedly, only 5,300 single people were polled and it only inquired about heterosexual experience, but even allowing for this bias, the research reveals a population of millions of Japanese adults who have no romantic attachments, no sexual experience, and the numbers of virgins are growing.

Japan's virgins

There are, arguably, numerous contributing factors to Japan becoming a nation of virgins, including modern lifestyles, cultural conservatism, economic malaise and otaku/porn culture. But what if this is a sign of the future of the modern world…

‘One of my colleagues is looking for a “winter boyfriend only,”’ Mark said over dinner at Hatchetts Mayfair. ‘I think plenty of women just see having a man as an accessory and don’t want a meaningful relationship,’ he continued.

‘Do you think your colleague really meant what she said, though?,’ I asked as our mains arrived.
‘Oh yes, I checked with her. She didn’t just say it for effect.’
‘Well I guess there are women and men who aren’t looking for relationships. Relationships are hard work. I find those with a checklist worse.’
‘I totally agree. I was on a second date with a girl and she said she could only go out with a guy who has a big d**k – such a turn-off.’
‘Imagine a guy giving a date his physical checklist! I mean, we all might have one, but saying it aloud is another matter,’ I laughed.

Perhaps these checklists are a reflection of our own equivalent of otaku/porn culture…

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