Abroad in Japan
Nearly Half of Young Japanese Men Have Never Had a Girlfriend
Jan 3, 2024
The podcast discusses the impact of Japan's work culture and technology on young men's romantic relationships. They also reflect on a camping trip and strange self-care guru stories. The hosts explore remote working benefits and Japan's disappearing countryside. Lastly, they talk about winter festivals in Nagano and Sapporo.
18:40
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Nearly half of young Japanese men in their 20s have never had a girlfriend, while around 30% of women in their 20s have never had a boyfriend, indicating a trend of increasing inexperience with steady romantic relationships among young people in Japan due to factors such as the heavy work culture and the choice between career and family life.
- The decline in Japan's countryside population poses concerns for the future of these rural areas, with factors such as migration to larger cities, limited job opportunities, and the trade-off between career and family life contributing to the reduction in public services and overall appeal of living in these regions, necessitating measures to ensure sustainable development and prevent further decline.
Deep dives
Decline in Romantic Relationships Among Young Japanese
According to the Romansan Marriage Survey, nearly half of young Japanese men in their 20s have never had a girlfriend, while around 30% of women in their 20s have never had a boyfriend. The survey suggests that young men and women in Japan are increasingly likely to have no experience with steady romantic relationships. The heavy work culture and the choice between a career or family life may contribute to this trend. Japan's declining birth rate and the potential impact on the countryside's economy and public services further highlight the significance of this issue.
