Japan and loneliness

The number of single people has reached a record high. A survey in 2011 found that 61% of unmarried men and 49% of women aged 18–34 were not in any kind of romantic relationship, a rise of almost 10% from five years earlier.[1]]] Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries are often lonelier societies.

In 2013, The Guardian declared:

“  |  Japan's under-40s appear to be losing interest in conventional relationships. Millions aren't even dating, and increasing numbers can't be bothered with sex. For their government, "celibacy syndrome" is part of a looming national catastrophe. Japan already has one of the world's lowest birth rates. Its population of 126 million, which has been shrinking for the past decade, is projected to plunge a further one-third by 2060. Aoyama believes the country is experiencing "a flight from human intimacy" – and it's partly the government's fault.

The number of single people has reached a record high. A survey in 2011 found that 61% of unmarried men and 49% of women aged 18-34 were not in any kind of romantic relationship, a rise of almost 10% from five years earlier. Another study found that a third of people under 30 had never dated at all. (There are no figures for same-sex relationships.) Although there has long been a pragmatic separation of love and sex in Japan – a country mostly free of religious morals – sex fares no better. A survey earlier this year by the Japan Family Planning Association (JFPA) found that 45% of women aged 16-24 "were not interested in or despised sexual contact". More than a quarter of men felt the same way.[2]

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## Contents

* 1 People hiring "friends" in Japan
* 2 Kodokushi
* 3 See also
* 4 External links
* 5 Notes

## People hiring "friends" in Japan[edit]

Worldcrunch reported in 2014:

“  |  Today, though, people are hiring “friends” in Japan, but for other reasons. More and more lonely Japanese people are willing to pay a pretty yen to spend some time with people, sometimes for just a day, in the company of a random actor who is looking for a bit of income on the side.

There are at least 10 companies — twice as many as eight years ago — who offer a multitude of services to those who can't find companions or might otherwise choose to avoid the responsibility that real friendships and relationships bring...

Although it’s difficult to measure the exact extent of the problem, loneliness is increasing in Japan, and it becomes evident from university days. “Fewer and fewer students participate in the activities organised by the clubs and societies,” says Sohei Ide, from Osaka University, an expert on issues relating to isolation and author of an investigation about student’s social attendance and participation. “If they fail to make contacts during their early days on campus, they will remain permanently isolated.”

This phenomenon is set to increase. “Young people today are immersed in a world where they can live entirely separated from others and it’s happening right before our eyes,” says psychiatrist Rika Kamaya, who traces the root of the problem to the development of smart phones and gaming consoles. Some of her patients say that they feel “lonely, even in the middle of a crowd,” and “consider establishing a real relationship with another person as an effort.”

This is where the students become customers of these rent-a-friend agencies. So, for a while, they can chat and get their worries off their chests, go shopping or watch a movie. To sum it up, they want be with a real person who appears to care about them.[3]

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## Kodokushi[edit]

Kodokushi (孤独死?) or 'lonely death' refers to the phenomenon of people dying alone in Japan and then remaining undiscovered for a long period of time. It is a growing problem in Japan.[4]

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and loneliness

* Atheism and marriage

* Atheist marriages

* Atheism and social intelligence

* Atheism and emotional intelligence

* England and loneliness

* Atheism and bitterness

* Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

## External links[edit]

* Japan's 'anti-loneliness' cafe goes viral

* Japanese company unveils 'anti-loneliness' hugging chair that 'makes you feel safe'

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex?
2. ↑ Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex?
3. ↑ Rent-A-Friend: A Solution For The Lonely People Of Japan
4. ↑ Nobel, Justin (2010-04-06). "Japan: 'Lonely Deaths' Rise Among Unemployed, Elderly". TIME. Retrieved 2010-07-28.