Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds • Hacker News Board

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#31

Post by ptaipale » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:24 PM UTC

CyberDildonics wrote: post #19

zhemao wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They aren't free to move out and start their own households Why is that a problem? You don't need to live separately from your parents or grandparents in order to get married. Multi-generational households were the norm until very recently. Also, given that the elderly are much healthier now than in the past, they may not need as much care.

If you are already a virgin, don't you think it might be a difficult road to get to being a parent when your elderly parents are living with you in a tiny cramped house?

On the other hand, when the Japanese had more children, they also took care of elderly parents and maybe had even less space and privacy in their dwellings.

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#32

Post by tokai » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:24 PM UTC

abstractbeliefs wrote: post #4

Before we get into a huge discussion about virginity, it's worth noting that the government isn't actually worried about it. They're worried about fertility rates. Virgins sell more papers though, so lets get that clickbait going.

It is an important data point for creating policy for bumping fertility though. For example would tax breaks for additional kids be less effective if people are not hooking up in the first place.

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#33

Post by f_allwein » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:30 PM UTC

abstractbeliefs wrote: post #4

Before we get into a huge discussion about virginity, it's worth noting that the government isn't actually worried about it. They're worried about fertility rates. Virgins sell more papers though, so lets get that clickbait going.

Yes, but virginity is an interesting part of the issue:

> Around 42 percent of men and 44.2 percent of women admitted that they were virgins

this seems quite high, although I haven't compared it to data from other countries. Are Japanese people having less sex? And if so, why?

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#34

Post by mjevans » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:34 PM UTC

fjejfjrjdjc wrote: post #13

unsignedint wrote: post #5

Having relationship in Japan can be tough when a lot of people are under non-permanent employment which they would get paid less and is unstable. Even if one's lucky enough to have a stable job, there is a problem of practically mandatory overtime (which, incidentally, can be unpaid.) Though, gap between ideal and reality is certainly a one of issues out there, but financial and time issues have a lot of impact to th…

This is the real issue, and it's where we're headed as well in the west. Unfortunately, we'll probably suffer through this completely avoidable problem because politicians are too beholden to business interests.

With the two recent recession dips and the long slog of recovery that doesn't seem to have any real vigor, I think the west might already be on this trajectory instead of merely headed there.

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#35

Post by OSButler » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:37 PM UTC

It would be interesting to hear the point of view from a Japanese on those numbers. How is the dating scene? Are those numbers surprising or matching with your own experiences?

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#36

Post by Animats » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:38 PM UTC

Japan has a fertility rate of 1.41. Replacement rate is around 2.1 to maintain the population. Here's the world table.[1] Most of the developed world is below replacement rate. Most of Africa is above 4. India is at 2.51; China is at 1.55. Singapore is at the bottom at 0.8.

It's amazing to see that much variation between countries.

Maybe Japan shouldn't have cracked down on love hotels.

[1] http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=31

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#37

Post by hasenj » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:40 PM UTC

IMO a decent solution to the low-birth-rate problem is not to try to hook up all the singles together, but rather encourage existing couples to have more children.

Make it socially acceptable and even desirable to have more children. Give incentives to working men who have more children.

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#38

Post by denzil_correa » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:41 PM UTC

xiaoma wrote: post #25

ausjke wrote: post #24

immigration will solve all these issues for now? Japan is not alone. In the future I think the babies can be born outside of the womb at some centers in volume per nation/race's needs.

Japan is remarkably uninterested in becoming an immigrant country. Guests are treated with warm, well-mannered hospitality but long-term immigrants are neither desired nor able to assimilate. How many other countries are there with a sizable population of 3rd generation foreigners ? Immigration might be a harder sell than dwindling down and disappearing altogether as a nation/culture/race/whatever else is bundled in…

The fun part about the "cultural integration" aspect of immigration is that people want it both ways. In the sense, they want a certain aspect of immigrants and don't want others. Basically, they don't want multiculturalism but rather clones that resemble their society. Sure, immigrants have to take 8/10 steps for cultural integration but the host country would also need to take the remaining 2 steps. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#39

Post by NumberCruncher » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:45 PM UTC

f_allwein wrote: post #33

abstractbeliefs wrote: post #4

Before we get into a huge discussion about virginity, it's worth noting that the government isn't actually worried about it. They're worried about fertility rates. Virgins sell more papers though, so lets get that clickbait going.

Yes, but virginity is an interesting part of the issue: > Around 42 percent of men and 44.2 percent of women admitted that they were virgins this seems quite high, although I haven't compared it to data from other countries. Are Japanese people having less sex? And if so, why?

I am not a Japan-expert but I remember seeing a documentary about young Japan couples renting sex-hotel rooms on hourly basis, because they have no other place to get intimate. It's quite hard to loose your virginity and get pregnant when your family is watching...

Re: Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

#40

Post by hasenj » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 6:45 PM UTC

Animats wrote: post #36

Japan has a fertility rate of 1.41. Replacement rate is around 2.1 to maintain the population. Here's the world table.[1] Most of the developed world is below replacement rate. Most of Africa is above 4. India is at 2.51; China is at 1.55. Singapore is at the bottom at 0.8. It's amazing to see that much variation between countries. Maybe Japan shouldn't have cracked down on love hotels. [1] http://www.indexmundi.com/…

If I understand correctly, love hotels are mostly used for, let's just say "recreational" activities by singles.

The adult industry doesn't help increase the birth rate; it helps plummet it.