In brief
The latest survey shows that around 80% of teenage boys in Japan have not had their first kiss, with a notable decline in sexual activity among youth. These trends raise concerns about the country's already low birth rate, exacerbated by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting societal values.
In a striking revelation, a recent survey by the Japan Association for Sex Education (Jase) indicates that the majority of Japanese teenagers are missing out on a quintessential rite of passage: their first kiss. An alarming 80% of boys aged 15-18 reported they had yet to experience this milestone, while only one in four girls have kissed someone. These figures, the lowest since Japan began tracking teenage sexual behaviors in 1974, align with the country's struggles regarding shrinking birth rates.Conducted across 12,562 junior high school, high school, and university students, the survey encompassed a range of topics from first kisses to sexual intercourse. It has noted a consistent decline in first kisses since 2005, when half of teenagers reported having kissed. This year’s report accentuated further drops in sexual activity among youth, with only 12% and 14.8% of high school boys and girls, respectively, reporting having had sexual intercourse—down 3.5 and 5.3 points, compared to 2017.Experts suggest that these trends may be influenced by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted school activities and social interactions during critical developmental years. Yusuke Hayashi, a sociology professor at Musashi University, stated that pandemic-imposed restrictions likely interrupted the formative experiences of teenagers during an essential time for exploring sexuality.Despite the concerning decline in romantic experiences, the survey revealed a contrasting trend: an increase in teenagers admitting to masturbation, indicating a shift in personal sexual exploration, albeit in a more solitary context. The findings come on the heels of another survey showing that nearly half of marriages in Japan lack sexual intimacy, further highlighting issues affecting relationships in the country.As Japan grapples with declining birth rates—projected to plummet from its current 125 million to below 53 million by the end of the century—the implications of these survey results deepen. Factors such as escalated living expenses, increased participation of women in education and the workforce, and broader access to contraception contribute to the trend of fewer children being born. With the oldest population in the world, Japan is currently at a critical juncture, as one in ten people are aged 80 or older, leading companies like Oji Holdings to shift from producing baby products to catering to an aging demographic.As regions across Asia invest in strategies to bolster birth rates, Japan's ongoing issues raise critical questions about the solutions necessary to reverse these worrying trends.
