Affluent Singles and Virtual Partners

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Walking down the streets of Tokyo and you will soon begin to wonder where the Japanese keep their children. Babies and prams is a rare sight, the number of singles seems to out number couples and there seems to be more males than females.

According to the BBC, the Japanese population is expected to shrink by 1/3 by 2060 if the birth rate does not increase. Japan's aging population issue seems more critical even compared to western countries that are going down the same path. 

More young people prefer to stay single, remain financially independent and live out their desired life style to the full. This trend is portrayed in the most recent Japanese soap the "Dokushin Kizoku" (affluent singles) that seems to resonate well with many of Japan's working young professionals. 


In addition to less marriages, there are also claims that some Japanese prefer to go "virtual" when choosing their dates, reducing the chance of creating babies even more. Otaku, mostly refers to a class of men that prefers to stays home, often associated with computer games, anime and mangas but the term can perhaps be extended to describe people that prefers to stay in to obsess over particular interests.

Akihabara
In Tokyo, there is a particular district dedicated to this class of anime lovers. Akihabara, a surreal place full of cartoons, cute toys and characters and also "tea shops" where customers are served by maids dressed up as anime characters.

A survey by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 2010 found 36% of Japanese males aged 16 to 19 had no interest in sex - a figure that had doubled in the space of two years. 


Perhaps Japan should turn to immigration and attract talents and workforce from overseas. However, this is a country with a unique culture unlike any other. The level of service and politeness, the professionalism, the attention to details and good habits all makes this nation a very special place. It would be a shame to see this unique culture diluted. I think the Japanese knows this very well; so for now, foreigners are still few and far between.
 
You can find the related BBC news article here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24614830


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