Japan has a worrying number of virgins, government finds

Post by zhemao » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 5:30 PM UTC

sandworm101 wrote: post #6

zxcvvcxz wrote: post #3

Low birthrates, low marriage rates, sure that's a problem for a nation. But I don't think virginity need be a problem. If one wants to wait until they meet their right partner why not? Data shows this leads to stronger bonds (though the causation is unknown and may be something like religion). It's not like more premarital sex even correlates to higher birth rates. If fact for first world countries the correlation ha…

I suspect it isn't about the kids. Or even sex. I suspect it is about old people. The period of one's life during which one must take care of elderly parents and grandparents is growing. Many people of marrying age are in families with several elderly people to care for. They aren't free to move out and start their own households. If I am correct, the answer isn't more child care but more government-backed elder care…

Post by mariodiana » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 5:33 PM UTC

eternalban wrote: post #9

I had a conversation with a Japanese American artist a couple of years ago on the general topic of the post-WWII infantilization of Japanese culture. I believe we reached a sort of mild agreement that Japan's collective unconscious is still trying to process the shock of being on the receiving end of a nuclear attack.

Post by sambe » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 5:38 PM UTC

mariodiana wrote: post #15

> There was one clearly positive indicator in the survey: For the first time, the proportion of women returning to work after having their first child in Japan's once notoriously patriarchal society exceeded 50 percent. In all seriousness, if the concern is low birthrates, how is the above a "clearly positive indicator"?

Post by astrange » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

mariodiana wrote: post #14

eternalban wrote: post #9

I had a conversation with a Japanese American artist a couple of years ago on the general topic of the post-WWII infantilization of Japanese culture. I believe we reached a sort of mild agreement that Japan's collective unconscious is still trying to process the shock of being on the receiving end of a nuclear attack.

Please, can you give some details about this "infantilization"? I can't be the only one who can't think of anything other than Hello Kitty.

Post by unsignedint » Sat, Sep 17, 2016, 5:56 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.