A survey indicates that young Japanese individuals are engaging in sexual activity less frequently. Recent reviews explore this trend – and the reasons remain unclear.

The survey estimates that approximately half of Japanese individuals enter their mid-20s without any sexual experience, with around 10% reaching their 30s before becoming sexually active.

Even those who have had sexual experiences are reportedly engaging in sex infrequently. Online surveys from the 2020s reveal that about half of Japanese adults aged 20 to 49 are sexually inactive, meaning they have not engaged in sexual activity over the past year.

This national decline appears to have worsened in recent decades, with both sexual inexperience and inactivity rates increasing since 2000.

In contrast, by 2002, just over one-third of Japanese adults aged 20 to 24 reported never having had sex. By the 2020s, this figure could rise to 60% for men and 51% for women in that same age group, according to recent survey data.

These findings emerge from a review of Japanese sexual attitudes and behaviors published in the Journal of Sex Research.

The authors of the study analyzed 38 publications based on 43 studies regarding sexual trends in Japan from 1974 to 2024, most of which were conducted within a heterosexual context.

Among their discoveries were notable increases in sexlessness within marriages, alongside the rise of pornography and the use of sex workers, especially among men.

For instance, surveys from 2008 to 2024 noted that up to 60% of Japanese men reported having paid for sex at some point.

Globally, young individuals in high-income countries are also having less sex. A 2019 survey highlighted that nearly one-third of British respondents hadn’t engaged in sexual activity in the previous month, a rise from about one-quarter in 2001.

However, the authors emphasize that Japan has a unique context, where “sexual behavior is often depicted as perplexing and contradictory, blending expectations of permissiveness with those of prudence.”

While the authors were uncertain about the reasons behind the declining sexual frequency among Japanese adults, they proposed several potential explanations.

One possibility is that many simply lack interest. A 2020 online survey discovered that 20 to 30 percent of men aged 20 to 39 expressed a disinterest in sex, as did approximately 40 percent of women in the same age range.

The authors speculated that unmarried individuals in their 20s and 30s might be reluctant to invest time and money in dating someone they might not marry.

Furthermore, for women, cultural expectations to handle most household responsibilities may diminish the appeal of marriage.

Additionally, the authors noted that Japanese adults seem less embarrassed about being virgin or celibate compared to their counterparts in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

Alternative sexual outlets have also grown more acceptable; for example, romantic feelings directed towards fictional characters.

A 2017 survey of Japanese students aged 16 to 22 found that 14 to 17 percent admitted to having romantic feelings for video game and anime characters.

Simultaneously, the authors observed that a demanding work culture, characterized by long hours and commutes, may hinder young individuals from forming and maintaining sexual relationships. In Japan, about 30 percent of men and 15 percent of women work over 50 hours per week.

Sex education in Japan is limited, with few women utilizing hormonal contraception and a lack of acceptance for non-heterosexual identities.

Dr. Vanessa Appea, a consultant in sexual health at Barts Health NHS Trust, who was not involved in the study, expressed that the findings are “shocking” regarding the evolving priorities of young people in Japan.

“Instead of a waning desire, the evidence suggests broader social and economic influences at play, including long working hours, job insecurity, shifting gender roles, and a cultural emphasis on stability over partnership,” Appiah said.

“Though declining sexual frequency is noted in the UK and the US, the trend in Japan is more pronounced. This may signal an early indication of a global shift where technology, work culture, and modern expectations are reshaping how we connect and experience intimacy.”

However, Apea urged caution regarding the study’s conclusions since the data stem from a broader survey, and participants may have differing interpretations of their sexual experiences.

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