In brief
A recent study shows that a staggering 80% of Japanese teenage boys have never had their first kiss, and the situation for girls isn't much better, raising concerns for a nation grappling with low birth rates.
In a shocking revelation about the romantic lives of teenagers in Japan, a new survey has found that four out of five boys aged 15-18 have yet to experience their first kiss. The situation is not much better for girls, with only 25% of female high school students reporting they have kissed someone. This unprecedented decline in teenage romantic experiences marks the lowest percentage since surveys began in 1974, alarming experts in a country already facing one of the world’s lowest birth rates.Conducted by the Japan Association for Sex Education (JASE), the survey included responses from over 12,500 students spanning junior and senior high schools and universities. It highlighted a worrying trend — there has been a steep drop in the number of first kisses since the survey was first conducted every six years, where the ratio stood closer to 50% in 2005. Additionally, sexual activity among youth is also on the decline. Only 12% of high school boys and 14.8% of girls report having engaged in sexual intercourse, a decrease from 2017.The Covid-19 pandemic is likely a significant factor in this downward trend. Yusuke Hayashi, a sociology professor at Musashi University, suggested that school closures and restrictions on physical contact coinciding with a critical developmental stage for these teenagers hindered their exploration of romantic and sexual relationships. Despite these declines in kissing and sexual interactions, the survey intriguingly revealed record-high levels of self-reported masturbation among teenagers, suggesting a complex landscape of sexual expression.The ramifications of these findings go beyond individual experiences as Japan grapples with an alarming birth rate crisis. Earlier this year, it was reported that nearly 50% of marriages in the country are sexless, underscoring wider societal implications. With the population projected to fall from 125 million to under 53 million by the century's end, the urgency to address this issue is growing. Contributing factors to the declining birth rate include rising living costs, more women prioritizing education and career, and increased accessibility to contraception, all leading to decisions against having children.Japan already has the world’s oldest population demographic and, for the first time, one in ten citizens is aged 80 or older. Recognizing these challenges, Oji Holdings, a prominent diaper maker, is ceasing its baby diaper production to focus on adult diapers, reflecting the shifting demographic landscape. As many Asian countries invest in initiatives to boost birth rates, the pressing question remains: can Japan reverse this concerning trend?
