Why are there so many singles in Japan?

The Japanese population is declining because many couples do not wish to have children, while a large part of the Japanese remain single. Have you ever wondered why there are so many singles in Japan?

There are numerous reasons that make the single rate in Japan exceed 25% among adults aged 20 to 49. See below in the summary a list of reasons why Japanese people are single, then we will discuss each of them.

How did marriages work in Japan?

In the past, marriages were arranged through omiai [お見合い], meaning the parents decided with whom their children should marry. Even today, although rare, some parents still like to interfere in their children’s relationships.

Today, parents “only” decide on education, save money (if they can) for college (very expensive), and invest in their sons and daughters. Nowadays, those who marry in Japan are aware that they are also marrying into the family.

In the past, women were also submissive, often walking behind their husbands. As women’s intellectual levels are high, they become independent quickly. They can work and support their lifestyle.

For men, winning over this new generation of women is becoming increasingly difficult. Besides gaming and gambling, Japanese men have some habits that do not match with women of high critical thinking.

Some Japanese women have become so focused on themselves and their careers that they are not interested in family life, especially when they are younger. Some decide to marry only after 30 or 40.

Japanese people did not choose their spouses in the past, and they do not choose today!

Prostitution keeps Japanese people single

Prostitution in Japan and the exposure to adult content harm both men and women in having relationships and marrying in Japan. Firstly, many men are addicted to adult content, including animations, which destroys their social life.

It is believed that about 10% to 25% of the Japanese female population works in a sector related to pornography, escorting, cafes, or bars. Even if the work does not involve relationships, there are still consequences.

Consequently, there is an increasingly materialistic segment of Japanese society that spends years renting their bodies. This can make the idea of marriage and children seem “inconvenient.” Many young women are materialistic and do everything for money.

Fortunately, many of these women somehow return to decent jobs and social respectability, although many of them are already mentally damaged forever and are less likely to have a normal marriage or children.

Others simply satisfy their sexual desires by consuming such material and using toys that are quite popular and high-tech, providing a unique pleasure, eliminating the need for a serious relationship or marriage.

On the other hand, many Japanese people do not even care about sexual relationships. Japan is so frenetic, full of entertainment and unique places that there is no time to think about these things.

Japanese people do not need a relationship to satisfy themselves sexually!

Work interferes with Japanese relationships

Despite generalizations, Japanese people really tend to work a lot, and in their free time, they prefer to drink and rest. Even those who do not work overtime end up keeping their minds occupied at work.

Japanese women also prefer men with stable jobs and a higher educational level than theirs. This idea creates a huge barrier between men and women in a country where most people are educated.

Many workers in Japan do not have stable jobs, with the proportion of temporary workers exceeding 40%, which leaves many uncertain about getting involved in a relationship and supporting a family.

Many people used to find their future spouses at the workplace, but the increase in job insecurity does not help. Even if it is possible to find a spouse at work, another thing that hinders Japanese people from dating is shyness.

If a man earns less than a woman in Japan, he probably won’t be able to marry her!

Shyness – The Biggest Enemy of Single Japanese

In Japan, men are extremely shy, sometimes even shyer than women. They can be great salespeople and have good social communication, but when it comes to women, they become super shy and do not know how to behave.

Shyness completely blocks a potential relationship from both sides. As long as one does not take the initiative, things will never move towards dating and marriage. At least a kiss is necessary to awaken the desire for a relationship.

Shyness poses a significant challenge for couples in Japan; due to the culture, things like holding hands and kissing in public can be quite rare. Even when they are alone, a couple may have difficulty initiating a kiss.

Shyness can be so overwhelming that even perverts in Japan are arrested not for rape but for stealing panties or doing other things that do not involve sex between two people.

If there is no initiative, there will be no relationship!

Japanese prefer to stay single

Some make up the excuse that it is better to be single and have no expenses or problems. Many think that maintaining a relationship is something mendokusai [めんどくさい], meaning something troublesome and laborious.

Those Japanese who seek to enter a relationship for romance and love often create disillusionments, as real life is not like in movies and anime. Many who married with this idea end up getting divorced.

Generally, Japanese people choose not to stay alone when they need a partner and know the difficulties of living alone. Unfortunately, they realize this too late, trying to enjoy their youth and forgetting to find someone.

Turning 30 in Japan also means becoming an uncle/aunt!

Is it easy to stay single in Japan?

In fact, it is very easy to get involved in a relationship in Japan. Foreigners have good results when trying to find and win over a Japanese woman. They crave attention from Japanese men, so only those who want to stay single do.

The same goes for women who want to marry a Japanese man. Sometimes you need to take the initiative, provoke, be direct with your feelings, just be prepared because some Japanese are really cold or do not express their feelings.

I hope this article has clarified that the difficulties in maintaining a relationship in Japan are posed by the Japanese themselves. Be aware that it is not an absolute thing; in Japan, you can find all kinds of people who face everything.