More single Japanese not keen on relationships: survey

A rising number of Japanese single people aged in their 20s and 30s are not interested in starting a romantic relationship, with the primary reason being that they " can't be bothered," the Cabinet Office's most recent white paper stated.

According to the government report, 40 percent of both men and women in their 20s and 30s are not interested in starting a relationship, with 46.2 percent stating that relationships are " too much hassle," while 45.1 percent said they would "rather concentrate on their own hobbies" and interests than pursue a relationship.

The government survey also revealed that among other reasons those eligible to start relationships but were disinclined to do so, were a lack of knowledge on how to do so, or where good places to find a suitable partner were. Personal insecurities also ranked as one of the reasons both men and women in this age range were reluctant to find a partner.

Other factors that have been well-documented by sociologists here recently for a decline in traditional relationships between men and women, resulting in marriage and starting a family, include a growing number of males in their 20s and 30s, known as soushoku danshi (herbivorous men), who are not only completely passive about the pursuit of women, are more content to spend their time and money entirely on themselves.

"All girls these days are interested in are material things, bags, accessories, expensive dates and trips overseas. I work hard, but I don't want to waste my money on someone who's not going to appreciate it and probably dump me for someone with a fatter wallet a few months later," Toru Umeda told Xinhua.

"Not only that, I wouldn't even know how or where to find a girlfriend. I don't think a girl would be interested in me anyway and to be honest, I don't really care," the self-confessed herbivore said.

And while a breed of males here known as nikushoku danshi ( carnivorous men), who are more adept at pursuing and seducing the objects of their desire continue to date women in a somewhat conventional sense, the rise of more independent women, with higher paying jobs and status in society, has meant that a generation of females aged around 30 would have once fallen prey to the nikushoku danshi, with the ritual eventually ending in wedding rings and children, are now actively chasing their own careers, staying single and financially independent of men, marrying later if at all, and having children at a later age than generations gone by, if at all.

"I've got a great job and earn more than most of the guys my age, so why would I want to give all that up to spend all my time in a kitchen and cleaning up after a husband and a baby. No thanks! " Noriko Endo told Xinhua.

"I'm perfectly independent and enjoy my freedom. Everything I want to do, I can. Unlike my older sister and mom's generation I don't need any help, especially financial, from a man," Endo said.

"On the occasions I do have dinner or drinks with a guy, they seem intimidated by my independence and it doesn't usually lead to a second date. But it doesn't bother me. My career is my first love and I have two wonderful dogs, what else could I possibly want?" concluded Endo.

The government survey which traversed the statistical side of many of these social issues facing Japan, with the most pressing being the nation's declining birthrate, called on the government to consider a strategy to encourage more young people get married.

The survey asked 7,000 men and women aged 20 to 39 nationwide about their views on relationships and marriage and 2,643 responded. Endi