*** IN DEPTH
When freaky-deaky
equals hara-kiri
The population of Japan is in decline, the birthrate is plummeting,
and the consequences look grim. Some studies put the blame on Japanese
men whose appetite for masturbation, *** toys and virtual tete-a-tetes
is turning them off the real thing. The future, one might say, is in
their hands. (Mar 7, '08)
William Sparrow writes a weekly column looking at issues relating to
*** in Asia.
*** IN DEPTH
When freaky-deaky equals hara-kiri
By William Sparrow
March 8, 2008 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/JC08Dh01.html
BANGKOK - The Japanese population is believed to have peaked at about
127.5 million in 2005. Since then the figure has declined, with some
estimates suggesting the population could shrink to 105 million by
2050. The drop is feared to have negative impacts on the nation's
labor force and grave social and economic consequences. Recent re****ts
seem to indicate that the ***ual proclivities of Japanese men are
contributing adversely to the situation.
More and more men, re****ts maintain, are turning to masturbation and
*** toys rather than to their female counterparts. And further
exacerbating an already declining birthrate of 1.29 children per women
found in a 2004 survey by The Daily Yomiuri, is the fact that some men
are increasingly turning their backs on ***.
"*** is just way too much trouble," a 35-year-old Japanese man told
Shukan Asahi this week, adding that ever since he used masturbation as
a teenager, he's never desired a woman again. "As long as I have a ***
toy available, I don't need women. I can't come when I have ***, and
you've got to put a lot of emotion into dealing with women.
Self-pleasure is a hell of a lot less demanding than trying to please
somebody else."
****ography, masturbation aids, Internet **** sites and social
networks that lead to "virtual relation****ps", soaplands and Japan's
widespread prostitution industry all allow men outlets for ***ual
fulfillment while not fulfilling other needs, such as procreation. The
alarming trend has led medical experts in Japan to coin a new term for
a condition they call "vaginal ejaculation dysfunctional disorder".
"There has been a definite increase in the number of men showing signs
of vaginal ejaculation dysfunction disorder, which includes such
afflictions as premature and delayed ejaculation. There are physical
reasons believed to be behind this, including prejudice against women,
past trauma and overuse of masturbatory aids so that a vagina is
unable to provide sufficient stimulation," Dr Tsuneo Akaeda, head of
the Akaeda Clinic in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district, told
Shukan Asahi.
"Some of the masturbation aids coming out nowadays are absolutely
incredible. Guys become used to using these and there is no doubt that
many men are unable to obtain the necessary satisfaction from a female
vagina that they need to ejaculate."
Meanwhile, Japan is quickly becoming the world's oldest population. By
2025, 27.3%, or 33.2 million people, will be aged over 60, a study
titled "The Illusion of Immigration Control" found.
Low birth rate coupled with the aforementioned ***ual dysfunctions
make the problems that Japan faces immediate and daunting.
"With Japan's labor force expected to decrease by 10% in the next 25
years, the economic outlook is far from bright. In all likelihood, the
domestic market will shrink, production will fall, the government's
revenue base will contract inexorably and it will struggle to meet
welfare and medical payments for an increasing number of elderly as
the dependency ratio (the number of workers sup****ting the elderly)
will ****ft dramatically. In 1950, one elderly person was sup****ted by
12 members of the working population, by 1990 it was 5.5 workers, and
by 2020 it is estimated to be 2.3 workers. Naturally, the government
is concerned about such a scenario," Julian Chapple wrote in a 2005
study titled "The Dilemma Posed by Japan's Population Decline".
The government has put forward a number of proposals to reverse the
trend. These have included the "Plus 1" (indicating the increase the
government hopes to see to the birthrate), softening of immigration
laws, child care initiatives, subsidies to parents for medical care
and child care and working with Japanese employers to allow more
"flex" time for parents. While the government has given the situation
the appropriate attention, so far most of the initiatives have made
little change and failed to stem the decline.
Japan, like many societies, can at times struggle with open
communication and education about ***. So, perhaps the answer is being
overlooked: encourage more *** between partners and husbands and wives
through better communication and education.
William Sparrow has been an occasional contributor to Asia Times
Online and now joins Asia Times Online with a weekly column. Sparrow
is editor in chief of Asian *** Gazette and has re****ted on *** in
Asia for over five years. To contact him send question or comments to
Letters@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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