In many cultures around the world, a teenager’s first kiss is often seen as a milestone—one that marks the transition from childhood to adolescence. However, a new survey of Japanese high school students has brought to light a concerning trend: four out of five boys aged 15 to 18 have yet to experience their first kiss. Even more surprising is the situation for girls, with just over one in four female high school students reporting that they have had their first kiss. These figures are the lowest recorded since Japan first began surveying teenagers about their sexual habits in 1974.
The results of this survey are particularly troubling for Japan, a country already grappling with one of the lowest birth rates in the world. The Japan Association for Sex Education (JASE), which conducted the study, gathered data from over 12,500 students across junior high schools, high schools, and universities. The survey asked questions about everything from first kisses to sexual intercourse, shedding light on how Japan’s youth are approaching intimacy and relationships.
The survey, which takes place every six years, has shown a steady decline in the number of teenagers having their first kiss, with a sharp drop since 2005. In that year, roughly one in two teenagers reported having kissed someone for the first time. However, the latest findings show that the trend has continued to decline, with an alarming number of high school students having little or no physical romantic experience by the time they reach adulthood.
Kissing is not the only area where there has been a noticeable decline. The number of Japanese youth engaging in sexual intercourse has also decreased. For example, the proportion of high school boys who reported having had sex dropped by 3.5 percentage points from 2017 to 12%. Among high school girls, the drop was even more pronounced, with the figure declining by 5.3 percentage points, leaving only 14.8% of girls reporting sexual activity.
Experts have suggested that the Covid-19 pandemic might have played a role in these declines. Yusuke Hayashi, a sociology professor at Musashi University, noted that the school closures, social distancing measures, and restrictions on physical contact during the pandemic occurred at a critical time for many adolescents, who are beginning to explore their sexuality. He suggests that these disruptions in normal social life may have made it more difficult for teens to engage in relationships and develop intimate experiences.
However, not all trends in the survey were negative. The study did find that the number of teenagers admitting to masturbation across all demographics had reached record highs. While this shift may seem unrelated, it suggests that while physical intimacy with others is declining, many teens are still exploring their sexuality on their own.
This data comes on the heels of another concerning survey earlier this year that revealed nearly half of marriages in Japan are “sexless,” meaning they involve little to no sexual activity. Taken together, these surveys paint a troubling picture of Japan’s changing attitudes toward intimacy and sexual relationships. With the country’s rapidly aging population and declining birth rates, experts are raising alarms about the long-term social and economic implications of these trends.
The government has warned that Japan’s low birth rate is pushing the country to the brink of unsustainability. In 2023, the then-prime minister of Japan declared that the nation’s low birth rate could soon render the country incapable of functioning. Population estimates suggest that, if these trends continue, Japan’s population of 125 million could shrink to less than 53 million by the end of the century.
Several factors are thought to contribute to Japan’s declining birth rate, including rising living costs, an increasing number of women pursuing higher education and careers, and greater access to contraception. Many women in Japan are choosing to delay or forgo having children, citing economic pressures and the challenges of balancing work and family life. The country’s aging population, already the oldest in the world, is another major factor. According to the United Nations, Japan has the highest proportion of people aged 65 or older, and in late 2023, it was reported that for the first time in history, one in 10 people in Japan were aged 80 or older.
In response to these shifting demographics, Japan’s industries are starting to adapt. For example, in March 2023, diaper manufacturer Oji Holdings announced it would be discontinuing the production of baby diapers to focus on manufacturing adult diapers, reflecting the growing demand for products catering to the elderly population.
As Japan continues to grapple with these complex issues, the latest survey results are a stark reminder of the challenges the country faces in addressing its declining birth rate. The fact that fewer young people are engaging in romantic and sexual relationships could have far-reaching consequences for Japan’s future—both socially and economically.
