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Sexless marriages caught up in battle of words in Japan
May 17, 2005
Recently released Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry statistics, which show 32
percent of married couples in Japan tend to be sexless, has sparked controversy
over the definition of the term, rather than the figure itself.
The Japan Society of Sexual Science (JSSS) defines a sexless marriage as a
couple's lack of sex for one month or longer without a special reason such as
the delivery of a baby.
Discussions on sexlessness began in Japan in 1991 when Teruo Abe, vice
president of the JSSS, noticed that the number of married couples not engaging
in sex had been rapidly growing since the late 1980s. He presented the result
of his survey at a society session.
At the time, some experts pointed out that one month was too short a period as
a definition for sexlessness. However, although Abe conducted a similar survey
after changing the definition to three months, the results proved to be almost
the same.
JSSS President Genichi Nozue said the society set the period at one month
because treatment for sexlessness should be provided as soon as possible.
He explained that it is necessary to examine the psychological backgrounds of
sexless couples, such as relations between themselves and their relations with
colleagues at their workplaces, in addition to their physical condition.
The Mainichi Shimbun recently conducted a survey on the definition of
sexlessness by placing a questionnaire on the MSN-Mainichi Interactive web
site.
Of the 8,766 respondents, the largest percentage -- 32 percent -- said they
regard a lack of sex for six months or longer as sexless, followed by 25
percent who cited one month. About 20 percent cited one year while 13 percent
said two months.
Dr. Kunio Kitamura, director of a clinic attached to the Japan Family Planning
Association, said the Mainichi survey suggests Japanese people tend to be too
passive about sex. "It came as a surprise to me that the largest number of
pollees selected 'six months' and about 20 percent chose 'one year.' The
results gave me the impression that they are too passive about sex," he said.
On the other hand, JSSS President Nozue said the results appear to be
appropriate. "I guess the definition of a period of sexlessness should be
longer than one month. The results of the survey may be accurate."
Mainichi Shimbun
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