70% of Japanese women say they don't need a partner to be happy

[Maciamo]

BBC News : Japan women's singular contentment

Seven out of 10 single Japanese women believe they can be perfectly happy remaining on their own, according to an opinion poll in the Yomiuri newspaper.
The number of women believing singledom can bring contentment has risen by 10% since 2003, the newspaper said.

Analysts say the results reflect the fact that staying single is no longer the social stigma it once was.
...
Yomiuri's nationwide survey found that 73% of single female respondents and 67% of single males agreed that women could be completely happy living on their own.

But the numbers fell with age. Of those in their 20s, 74% of male and females asked said they believed women could be happy if they did not marry.

The rate dropped to 66% for respondents in their 30s, and 58% for those in their 40s.

Watch out that "stay on their own" doesn't me "not have a/many sex partners". I think that the number of singles is increasing mostly for 2 reasons :
1) they are free to have as many sex partners as they want, and change anytime they want
2) they don't want to have children because it's a threat to their freedom and (libertine and extravagant) lifestyle.

[lexico]

Looking at only the downside of marriage, the obligations arising from marriage or permanent cohabitation can be due cause of stress which sucks the life out of life itself depending on how one looks at it. It is also true that child bearing and rasing is probably the greatest drain of resources on the parents, and especially on the mother.

Growing up with too much girlie manga and anime (only those that are), it is not surprising that Japanese women in their marrying years should think twice about marriage. Why kiss good-bye to the fantasy world of sailor moon in which one can stay forever young, in the never never land ? Financial independence is another reason that encourages them to stay single as you noted. A husband and a child can be expensive to maintain.

With an increasing number of liberated women, population is destined to decline. But in their minds, perhaps, reality is rather grim compared to the fantasy world, so why bring another being, for whom she will feel responsible, into the world, and thereby increase unhappiness ?

If that's indeed what they are thinking, I guess Japan is doomed to failure in the long run unless it finds a way to procure children with artificial means. That would mean laws would have to be changed, starting with the surrogate mother ruling of 2004, which was hardly conducive to encouraging hi-tech child bearing. Artificial wombs are being suggested (see Artificial Wombs and the End of Pregnancy), but that's not a good option imo.

[Ma Cherie]

Interesting survey, perhaps this decline in marriage can be do to the idea that the woman is existing for her husband and children instead of for herself. But that's just my opinion. I don't know if support artifical child birth.

[Dekamaster]

I don't know about the percentages for other countries, but I think this reaction might just be a short run trend. That is unless Men shape up and do a more persistent courting than just sending flowers.

[PopCulturePooka]

I don't know about the percentages for other countries, but I think this reaction might just be a short run trend. That is unless Men shape up and do a more persistent courting than just sending flowers.

And also be better husbands. Eg looking after kids and pulling their weight around the home. Not dooming the wife to a life of housewifing.

[Dream Time]

they have dilidos and vibrators to keep them happy everyday and everynight

[PopCulturePooka]

they have dilidos and vibrators to keep them happy everyday and everynight

Or their english teachers from the local NOVA/ECC/Geos/Gabba/Aeon.


I have said too much!

[RockLee]

Or their english teachers from the local NOVA/ECC/Geos/Gabba/Aeon.


I have said too much!

BUSTED pal !! well, I think it's one of the reasons non-japanese partners are more seen in the last years...because with a lot of people after they get a kid, it's over with the sexlife And japanese people don't give a kiss when hubby gets home or things like that...european & american ppl do...small things like that seem to influence the japanese women I think. (they like Korean men don't they )

[cicatriz esp]

These women don't possess the ability to fall in love?

[Index]

Good point Maciamo re. what they really mean. Sounds like another fad to me anyway