A newly published review in the Journal of Sex Research synthesizes the results of 43 surveys conducted over the last 50 years concerning sexual inactivity, inexperience, and lack of desire among Japanese youth, which is increasingly recognized as a serious social problem in a country worried about population decline. Today, about half the Japanese population have no sexual experience by the time they reach their mid-20s, and 10% have none when reaching their 30s, and the problem appears to have grown worse in recent decades, as has sexual inactivity even among married couples. The problem is particularly acute among lower socio-demographic classes. Although the rate of pornography consumption among young men is high and romantic feelings toward fictional characters or music celebrities are common among both young men and women, between 10% and 40% indicate no interest in having a regular sexual relationship with a real human. Conservative attitudes toward sex education may also play a role.
Sexual Inactivity in Japan
