¼ of Japanese Youth Are Virgins

What:

(As of 2015), heterosexual youth aged 25-35 with no sexual experience has risen nearly 25%, from roughly 20% to 25% for both sexes. 80% of those polled wished to eventually marry, and the figures for those aged 35-39 have doubled to nearly 10%. Although there are predictions as to the factors causing this change, predominantly a declining average income for males, the true causes and implications are unclear.

Where:

The data used reflected information gathered from 1992-2015 in the National Fertility Survey, which is conducted every 5 years. The study focused on population clusters identified in the national census, meaning all parts of Japan were represented. The focus of this article and study was on youth aged 25-39; however, a separate study produced by the Japanese government contradictingly claimed roughly 43% of men and women are sexually inexperienced. Link here: (http://www.ipss.go.jp/ps-doukou/j/doukou15/doukou15_gaiyo.asp). Nevertheless, the implications of the growing trend are clear and widespread.

Why/Big Picture:

While Japan's fertility crisis often makes for interesting trivia, many argue that it is unduly disregarded in the context of more sensational election topics such as short term economic and social matters. The extent of this problem was noted in the Japan Times article, the national population is expected to drop from the current 126 million to 88 million; however, this fact comes from a larger report done by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, entitled "Population projections for Japan: 2016 to 2065." In it, it elaborates that in this population of 88 million, 25% will be older than 77, and the proportion of 100 year olds will increase tenfold. Although skeptics of the crisis claim that the Japanese population has been 88 million in the past, the generational distribution has never been nearly as skewed towards non-working ages. 

The true implications of such a population shift are hard to gauge; however, it can be expected that due to a predictable decrease in taxable income, government revenue may decrease. Further, due to a predictable increase in retired population, social welfare programs may end up underfunded and overtaxed.

A primary factor for which experts blame the decrease in sexual experience is a relative decrease in income for males compared to Japan’s economic boom of 1980. According to a professor from Kyoto University, many men’s sense of self is tied to their income. Combined with the increasing movement of women’s empowerment, women are often earning enough to question their desire for marriage. In fact, women who earned less were reportedly more likely to have had sexual experience.