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Japan: A new Culture of Asexuality?


spunkaloidal

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Well is it repressed or just not explored? If you can be asexual just by not exploring sexuality for any reason, then that relates to asexuality.

personally, i dont think not exploring one's sexuality makes one asexual.

a ___sexual knows they're ___sexual even before sleeping with someone, after all.

It is also a mental exploration. What if somebody would be always alone, and he would never had seen anybody else, his sexual orientation would be unexplored, and unknown right? Now obviously people in Japan do see other people, but the perception is influenced by culture. Somebody can be encouraged or discouraged from valuing sex, and valuing exploration of his sexuality. Sexuality could be something that you have potential for, somebody will be asexual no matter what, for somebody feelings will be strong, and obvious so he would be sexual in any culture that we have, but for somebody else with culture that doesn't force it on him, he can decide that this isn't worth exploring. That isn't the same as repressing sexuality, and it applies to any potential interests or passion, "calling" or however you call it. To repress you first need to want something, and then fight to not do it or to not think about it, if somebody has unexplored sexuality then there is no fight there.

This is a speculation, and I am not sure how close to truth that view is but I think that there are some good reasons for thinking in that way.

In practice, it should be impossible for a person to always be alone. But even if it's possible, the person should still have a libido (unless also a non-libidoist). I don't believe culture can change orientation. The person may still have sexual attraction, but they do not know what the feeling is. Society, I believe, only gives a label to the feelings/attraction. I also live in a sex-repressed society, and I'm pretty sure most folks are not asexual.

As for repressed sexuality? If it's repressed since the start, the person might just think they're asexual.

It isn't exactly changing orientation. I don't claim that culture makes you heterosexual or other orientation. I don't think that you have potential to be of any orientation, the potential is static, but you can explore it or not.

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I don't see how. Controlling attraction is the hardest thing in the world. If you were right, a gay person could become straight just because his gay side wasn't explored. But that's not true, because actually a person like this is just closeted gay. In that regard, these Japanese men are just closeted sexuals.

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I don't see how. Controlling attraction is the hardest thing in the world. If you were right, a gay person could become straight just because his gay side wasn't explored. But that's not true, because actually a person like this is just closeted gay. In that regard, these Japanese men are just closeted sexuals.

No I assume that potential is static, so somebody might have only potential to be gay, so he can't change to being straight. As for being closed sexual, well I guess that can be right but there is big difference between being closed in the sense of not having explored it, and in the sense of denial. In the first that isn't a problem, and you don't think about, and in practice it doesn't differ from being asexual, in the second that is a denying feelings that you had already developed.

And it also depends on person, for some they sexuality feels as more obvious then for others.

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I highly doubt that when we don't explore something, we're not in denial as well. I'm sure that many of these men have still tons of sexual fantasies that they (poorly) satisfy with porn, animes and mangas. I would be ready to bet that many of them fantasize to be with an anime girl.

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Science and Stage

Check out this SourceFed YouTube video for details.

Thoughts?

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Ohh, my friend sent me an article about this yesterday, it's really interesting o:

The article talks a lot about the view that marriage and relationships seeming like a chore/something to get in the way of focusing on careers o:

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Two years ago we had a japanese guy in our class, he'd only moved to Germany a few months before, and he was so shocked that we talked about (a painting of) women underwear, and generally he was really uncomfortable with anything, the smallest things, going in that direction, so this isn't even as much of a surprise to me. It's weird, though, since you don't really get that image from manga and anime stuff. o.o

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This kind of bugs me cause I don't really like how people are all like, no sex! OH NO! When there's actually much worse things going on in Japan right now. Currently a lot of young women have been cutting themselves and doing self harm, and this has become very common place as well, and you don't hear anyone talking about that. Out of the two what sounds like a more serious issue to you?

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A lot of different fetishes come from Japan, because they are really repressed sexually in their society they live in. Part of the reason might also be is that Japan is only an island, so they're severely limited on space, compared to other countries who are a large land mass continent. It could be they're worried about overpopulation on the island on some subconscious level.

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For such a technologically modern country, it's strange to think they're still a bit regressive.

The more developed countries tend to have lower birth rates, and for a number of reasons, chiefly better education and access to birth control. Developing countries tend to have higher birth rates, which exacerbates problems with poverty and overpopulation.

How is it regressive that an island nation with limited space and resources is adjusting its population growth?

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This kind of bugs me cause I don't really like how people are all like, no sex! OH NO!

Is it just me, or did the "anchors" in that video seem incredibly obnoxious and judgmental? It may be unusual, and a dramatic change, but who are these two to say it's a "big sexless emergency" and "No sex, no thank you!"? They shouldn't be applying a mainstream American paradigm to a non-American situation.

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No surprise really. The Japanese have been ahead of us things before.

And yes, those anchors are absolutely obnoxious. They add nothing to the report.

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A friend just posted that article. I don't understand why it's such a big deal. So they've figured out that *gasp* it's possible to survive, and maybe even enjoy life, without intercourse! That's amazing! That's a violation of Hollywood law! The human race is going to go extinct!

This kind of bugs me cause I don't really like how people are all like, no sex! OH NO! When there's actually much worse things going on in Japan right now. Currently a lot of young women have been cutting themselves and doing self harm, and this has become very common place as well, and you don't hear anyone talking about that. Out of the two what sounds like a more serious issue to you?

Remember when Twinkies were going to go off the market? Some issues, particularly ongoing ones like self-injury and domestic abuse, people don't feel comfortable talking about. What's trivial or brand new is a lot easier to discuss publicly. It's screwed up, and backwards, but that's how things go.

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Sockstealingnome

A friend just posted that article. I don't understand why it's such a big deal. So they've figured out that *gasp* it's possible to survive, and maybe even enjoy life, without intercourse! That's amazing! That's a violation of Hollywood law! The human race is going to go extinct!

This kind of bugs me cause I don't really like how people are all like, no sex! OH NO! When there's actually much worse things going on in Japan right now. Currently a lot of young women have been cutting themselves and doing self harm, and this has become very common place as well, and you don't hear anyone talking about that. Out of the two what sounds like a more serious issue to you?

Remember when Twinkies were going to go off the market? Some issues, particularly ongoing ones like self-injury and domestic abuse, people don't feel comfortable talking about. What's trivial or brand new is a lot easier to discuss publicly. It's screwed up, and backwards, but that's how things go.

Well I think the problem with discussing those kinds of topic is the vulnerability of it all. No one likes to feel vulnerable and acknowledging it to everyone is a huge hurtle, not to mention it's something very private. It's a shame we can't have more open discourse regarding solving those problems, but I for one am one of those people who completely clams up if a subject hits too close to home so I understand the reticence.

My friend linked me an article about the Japan thing yesterday as well. Honestly, I really don't care. People act like it's the end of humans as we know it. Even if 6 billion people died tomorrow, there's still 1 billion left. Those kinds of numbers hardly suggest any kind of struggle as a species.

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Méshie Péshie

There is a program on BBC 2 on 24/10/13 at 21:00 titled 'No sex please, we're Japanese'

The blurb says that it is discussing the declining birth rate and the attitudes of people, so probably the same things the article is talking about.

When I was typing this into the search engine, the only options that came up were "No sex please we're British" over and over and over again lol Wtf?

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To be honest though, it does present a problem in terms of Japan's increasingly aging population. It gets to a point where there are too many elderly people and not enough people who are still more able to take care of them. This obviously was something entirely missing any actual problem and just freaking out because "omg people saying they don't want sex how weird!"

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To be honest though, it does present a problem in terms of Japan's increasingly aging population. It gets to a point where there are too many elderly people and not enough people who are still more able to take care of them. This obviously was something entirely missing any actual problem and just freaking out because "omg people saying they don't want sex how weird!"

Yeah, pretty much... and the Japanese economy isn't at its development peak either.

I think the overall birth rate SHOULD decrease, but as of right now, it's decreasing in the wrong places. Plus, I agree that the Japanese issue isn't even an "asexuality" issue. I bet it deals with the sex repression most of all. Just my thoughts.

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I'm seriously wondering if it's repressed sexuality, or they're really asexual...

It very much is. At least that's what it sounds like to me. Which is truly the most terrible thing I get from this, not the falling birth rates or abandonment of traditional relationships.

No this has nothing to do with asexuality. The numbers are too high, 25% to 50% of people are not asexual, and the fact this is a rapid change from previous conditions suggests its a social-economic catalyst causing it.

I agree that it's an interesting cultural shift, but I really, REALLY wish people would stop calling it a Big Problem. *eyeroll* The global overpopulation crisis notwithstanding, a cultural transition to putting more emphasis on career and less on sex/raising families is not inherently a problem. It's not better or worse, just different. If it makes a lot of practical sense to choose that lifestyle and those people who do so feel happy and fulfilled, why the hell is everyone freaking out?! Oh, that's right, because having sex is a Basic Human Need and those people who have little interest in sex are clearly unhealthy and need help.

That's exactly my thought about the article. As long as these young people are happy, so what if they're not interested in sex or dating? I think it's actually a good thing that they can find fulfillment from friendships, career, hobbies, etc, because they're proving that a romantic-sexual relationship isn't the only source of happiness. I hate the assumption that you can only get intimacy and a "real connection" through a romantic-sexual relationship heading towards marriage, and I don't get the fuss over people's declined interest in traditional relationships. Quite the opposite, it would be strange and sad if people still blindly adhere to traditional relationship models in this ever-changing world.

I don't see these people being happy at all. At least from what the article described. To me it really seems they are caught between a rock and a hard place. The social, economic, and cultural conditions described make having a relationship so unappealing that many feel they have no choice but to abandon them. The article even said some are turning to casual sex. But for many of us casual sex is not fulfilling or isn't even an option altogether.

I do see a massive problem with the situation, but not the ones emphasized in the article. Having your sexuality repressed by society is unhealthy and it's a bit disturbing to me that the number of people effected is so large.

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Hmm.

I read the article linked, since I didn't want to watch a video (sound didn't appeal to me) and the article didn't seem to say people are choosing no sex exactly. Just no children, or marriage. Several of the people mentioned in that article chose casual sex, or casual dating without the strings attached and no children. Some chose to do without sex entirely, since it carries the RISK of pregnancy, or too much effort involved to keep it going with no commitment, but it seems like a perfectly logical choice. If you can't keep both your job and have a child or be married, I can't blame women for choosing to keep their careers and do without relationships. It seems the problem is mostly sexism (the whole women should be housewives if they are married) and financial problems, not so much a disinterest in sex. And men not wanting to have to make enough money to care for a family, buy property and care for a wife that doesn't work? Still sounds pretty logical.

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Notte stellata

I don't see these people being happy at all. At least from what the article described. To me it really seems they are caught between a rock and a hard place. The social, economic, and cultural conditions described make having a relationship so unappealing that many feel they have no choice but to abandon them. The article even said some are turning to casual sex. But for many of us casual sex is not fulfilling or isn't even an option altogether.

I do see a massive problem with the situation, but not the ones emphasized in the article. Having your sexuality repressed by society is unhealthy and it's a bit disturbing to me that the number of people effected is so large.

It's a problem for those who are unhappy with their life. But the article also said some people are happy being single, like the young people in the last three photos. If they've learned to live without sex or romance, or if they don't see sex or romance as very important to begin with, I don't see the problem.

I think there are several facets to the phenomenon: repressed sexuality, unmet emotional needs, decreasing birth rate, and abandonment of traditional relationships. The first two are the real problems, but not all the single people suffer from them. I also think they should explore non-traditional relationships that can meet their sexual and emotional needs without having to accept all the cultural baggage attached to traditional relationships.

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Whelp, I'm moving to Japan. :cake: See you there!

(Seriously surprised that no one has said this yet.)

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For such a technologically modern country, it's strange to think they're still a bit regressive.

How is it regressive that an island nation with limited space and resources is adjusting its population growth?

It's certainly better than invading the nearest large country, which happened 70 years ago.

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WhenSummersGone

I hope this doesn't get confused with Asexuality. I bet some of those people who have stopped still want sex, right?

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anon_anonymous

I hope this doesn't get confused with Asexuality. I bet some of those people who have stopped still want sex, right?

i think it would be presumptuous to say anything about it straight away.

i would imagine that there's a whole host of macro and micro factors in play.

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I agree that it's an interesting cultural shift, but I really, REALLY wish people would stop calling it a Big Problem. *eyeroll* The global overpopulation crisis notwithstanding, a cultural transition to putting more emphasis on career and less on sex/raising families is not inherently a problem. It's not better or worse, just different. If it makes a lot of practical sense to choose that lifestyle and those people who do so feel happy and fulfilled, why the hell is everyone freaking out?! Oh, that's right, because having sex is a Basic Human Need and those people who have little interest in sex are clearly unhealthy and need help.

That's exactly my thought about the article. As long as these young people are happy, so what if they're not interested in sex or dating? I think it's actually a good thing that they can find fulfillment from friendships, career, hobbies, etc, because they're proving that a romantic-sexual relationship isn't the only source of happiness. I hate the assumption that you can only get intimacy and a "real connection" through a romantic-sexual relationship heading towards marriage, and I don't get the fuss over people's declined interest in traditional relationships. Quite the opposite, it would be strange and sad if people still blindly adhere to traditional relationship models in this ever-changing world.

I don't see these people being happy at all. At least from what the article described. To me it really seems they are caught between a rock and a hard place. The social, economic, and cultural conditions described make having a relationship so unappealing that many feel they have no choice but to abandon them. The article even said some are turning to casual sex. But for many of us casual sex is not fulfilling or isn't even an option altogether.

I do see a massive problem with the situation, but not the ones emphasized in the article. Having your sexuality repressed by society is unhealthy and it's a bit disturbing to me that the number of people effected is so large.

(Let's see if I can explain my thoughts coherently. This might be a mess. XD )

It seems to me that a society putting undue pressure on both genders to live up to a certain standard--telling men they MUST be breadwinners and telling women they MUST be babymakers--is definitely a Bad Thing and leads to people making sacrifices/compromises that really shouldn't have been necessary. The fact that Japanese women simply cannot have a fulfilling career AND be married or a mother because of discrimination in the workforce is totally ridiculous. Less people pursuing long-term romantic relationships and/or sex is logical result of these aspects of their society, but it is not a problem in and of itself. And I feel like that's what people are focusing on in the article: that less sex is itself a problem.

What I mean is, if the young people of Japan woke up one day and independently decided that hey, sex isn't really a big deal to them, that would be fine. There would be NOTHING wrong with that. As the article said, some Japanese young adults HAVE made that decision and are happy and content with their lives, sex-less as they are. The fact that some people in Japan who would like to have long-term romantic and sexual relationships can't or feel it isn't feasible because of societal pressures is a problem, but the problem isn't that they aren't getting enough sex; it's that the society in which they live is restricting their options and denying them a chance at something which they feel would bring them happiness and fulfillment.

The general tone of the article seems to be focusing on the wrong thing. The article seems to imply that young people being all "meh" about sex is inherently bad, regardless of their reasons, when in reality that is only a problem IF it is a consequence of societal pressures/restrictions. The article didn't make that distinction; it talked about sex as a basic human need to be healthy, while it should have been talking about equality, ending sexism, and allowing equal opportunity for all members of society to take their own path to happiness: married or not, working or not, parents or not, having sex or not.

...I might not have explained that well. XD And I'm not disagreeing with you Geo, just adding my thoughts. :)

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I also think they should explore non-traditional relationships that can meet their sexual and emotional needs without having to accept all the cultural baggage attached to traditional relationships.

I think if non-traditional relationships were social/culturally acceptable in Japan then this article may never have been written. It's the very fact that there is only one agreed upon acceptable relationship model (that also happens to be very unpalatable to many people) that a problem exists in the first place. It's my impression just from reading the article alone, that if you live in Japan your option is the traditional model, or nothing at all. And that many people are either unaware of or unwilling to consider alternatives.

What I mean is, if the young people of Japan woke up one day and independently decided that hey, sex isn't really a big deal to them, that would be fine. There would be NOTHING wrong with that.

Agreed. But it's incredibility difficult for me to believe that is actually the case here. That just wouldn't happen. Not for no reason at all at least. Not on such a large scale. This is definitely the result of social pressure.

As the article said, some Japanese young adults HAVE made that decision and are happy and content with their lives, sex-less as they are. The fact that some people in Japan who would like to have long-term romantic and sexual relationships can't or feel it isn't feasible because of societal pressures is a problem, but the problem isn't that they aren't getting enough sex; it's that the society in which they live is restricting their options and denying them a chance at something which they feel would bring them happiness and fulfillment.

Well I have to disagree with one part of this. Not enough sex IS a problem for many sexual people. There's no two ways about it.

The general tone of the article seems to be focusing on the wrong thing. The article seems to imply that young people being all "meh" about sex is inherently bad, regardless of their reasons, when in reality that is only a problem IF it is a consequence of societal pressures/restrictions. The article didn't make that distinction;

Oh but I think it very much DID make that distinction. Large sections of the article was dedicated to making that exact case. And I think it did quite a good job of it.

it talked about sex as a basic human need to be healthy, while it should have been talking about equality, ending sexism, and allowing equal opportunity for all members of society to take their own path to happiness: married or not, working or not, parents or not, having sex or not.

...I might not have explained that well. XD And I'm not disagreeing with you Geo, just adding my thoughts. :)

It's quite subjective what it should or should not have talked about.

And for the most part we do agree.

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