Japan: leader in technology, architecture, and relationship ideals? According to an article at BBC, this may be the truth. According to a study performed by the country’s government, 61% of Japanese young people aged 18-35 don’t have boyfriends or girlfriends, and have many have no interest in getting into relationships.

Some cited a shortage of money, others a belief that it is impossible to find a good partner once they had passed the age of 25.

Many of the women also said single life suited them better than how they imagined marriage would be.

Sounds like Japan is light years ahead of the United States in terms of realizing that getting married isn’t the only lifestyle option once you reach adulthood… and that friendships, family, work, play, and hobbies can be enjoyed a single adult just as well (and perhaps better) than a married one. The fact that the young people of Japan have the right mind to avoid relationships and marriage because they know what a financial burden they can be is a stark difference from Americans who often put themselves into debt by getting married and having children before they can afford it.

However, this news was a bit of a buzz kill:

The survey also found that more than quarter of unmarried men and women between 35 and 39 years old said they had never had sex.

Um…. really? The country that produces some of the most disturbing cartoon porn my eyes  have ever seen has a huge population of VIRGINS? Well, then again, I guess it would take a suppressed sex drive to think up that tentacle business, huh?