What’s the state of sex for adults in Japan?
To answer this question, USCF Health Resident Physician Cyrus Ghaznavi and colleagues conducted a national survey on sexual behaviors, sexual satisfaction, and sexual wellness
Published in The Journal of Sex Research, their article, “Sexual Behaviors among Individuals Aged 20-49 in Japan: Initial Findings from a Quasi-Representative National Survey, 2022” shed light on the sex lives of Japanese adults.
According to the authors, previous studies in Japan have focused on narrow age groups and used smaller sample sizes. They concentrated on topics related to heterosexual marriage and fertility. Instead, they should be looking at what people do across demographics.
“Nationally representative data of sexual behaviors in Japan are scarce.”
Yet, conducting such national surveys may “increase the understanding of human sexual behaviors among clinicians, educators, and the general public.” This can improve sexual health systems and inform evidence-based public health initiatives.
The Survey
The researchers used an online survey, titled the National Inventory of Japanese Sexual Behavior. It targeted men and women aged 20 to 49. They used a stratified sampling method to ensure representation across various demographics, including age, sex, marital status, and geographic region. The sample size was set at 8000 respondents, evenly balanced between men and women, and divided among age groups: 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49.
The survey included questions on various subjects related to Japanese sexuality. These included:
- Sexual orientation
- Self-attractiveness
- Number of sexual partners
- Age at first sexual intercourse
- Frequency of sexual activities
- Satisfaction with sexual life and relationships
- The use of commercial sex work services
The researchers analyzed the data from this quasi-representative sample to better understand what Japanese adults do and how they feel about their sex lives.
Findings
Sexual Inexperience
One of the most striking findings from the survey is the high percentage of sexual inexperience among adults. Approximately 15.3% of women and 19.8% of men reported never having any sexual partners with whom they engaged in vaginal, anal, or oral sex. This inexperience is higher among younger adults.
Sexual Activity
Another critical finding of the study shows a lack of sexual activity within the last year amongst a substantial portion of the population. The survey found that 45.3% of women and 44.5% of men had not had any sexual partners in the past year. This trend was most noticeable among women aged 40-49 (51.7%) and men aged 20-29 (55.1%).
Sexual Satisfaction and Relationships
When it comes to sexual satisfaction and relationships, the findings are equally concerning. The study revealed that a small fraction of the population feels content: only 27.8% of women and 23.1% of men expressed satisfaction with their sex lives. Additionally, dissatisfaction was noted, with 17.6% of women and 27.1% of men expressing discontentment with their sexual relationships.
Masturbation
Regarding masturbation, the study found that 48.1% of women and 88.3% of men report masturbating at some point in their lives. According to the survey, young men aged 20 to 29 masturbated the most, with 41.5% of them masturbating at least 3 times per week. Overall, the frequency of masturbation generally decreased with age.
Pornography
In terms of digital sexual activities, the findings about pornography use are telling. There was a considerable discrepancy between genders, with significantly more men engaging in frequent pornography use. Specifically, “Pornography use of [more than] 3 times per week” was most common among the ages 20 to 29 – with 6.5% being women and 34.8% being men.
Sex Workers
Finally, the survey explored the use of commercial sex worker services, revealing gender-specific trends and increased use among men. It found that “4% of women and 48.3% of men reported ever having used commercial sex worker services in their lifetime,” with the highest among men aged 40 to 49.
Changing Sexual Health in Japan
Based on their findings, the researchers provided several recommendations to improve the overall sexual well-being of the Japanese people.
Improve Sexual Education: Comprehensive sex education that goes beyond the basics of reproduction to include discussion around sexual wellness, consent, and healthy relationships. These conversations should start early in school curriculums and continue into adulthood with public awareness campaigns.
Open Discussions: Create a culture where sexual health is openly talked about to reduce stigma and make it easier to seek help and information. Media campaigns, community workshops, and support from public figures could shape these open conversations.
Access to Sexual Health Services: Ensure that all people have easy access to sexual health services, including counseling and STI testing. This involves providing confidential and non-judgmental services.
Support Mental Health: Integrate sexual health into larger mental health support structures by giving mental health professionals sexual health-specific training.
Lean into Digital Tools: Technology can be used to provide education, allow discreet access to information, and offer support. This can be especially appealing to younger populations.
Government Policies: The Japanese government should consider developing and implementing policies that promote sexual health to protect the rights of all individuals by providing resources and support services.
Continuing the Work
The researchers acknowledge the necessity of “continued research and data collection” to understand and respond to the sexual health and needs of the Japanese population. Addressing these needs through rigorous and updated studies may provide more solid evidence for creating policy and education initiatives.
Future research should not only rely on data but also on real-life experiences and challenges facing the communities. They recommend exploring the impacts of cultural, social, and economic factors on sexual behavior. Such research could explain the different layers affecting sexual wellness and help shape more effective, culturally sensitive interventions.
As we think about the future of sex in Japan, the researchers remind us that “the improvement of sexual and reproductive health remains a priority on the public health agenda in Japan, as it is elsewhere around the world.”
This statement reminds us that we, as a global community, must build environments where talking about sexual health is not a taboo but a normal part of everyday life.
