Rise of Japan's middle-aged virgins: a quarter of over-30s have never had sex

[Josquius]

I blame car focussed urban development and depopulation of provincial cities.

America has much more car focused urban development.

You however don't have the same culture of close nit groups.
And you have church and that sort of thing.

Also of course America doesn't have the same super serious mindset and 25 years of economic malaise.

[The Larch]

Normally having a car helps you get laid when you're young. 

[Martinus]

A particularly troubling development for our modern culture, in which the highest virtue has become unfettered sexual expression.

Sexual expression should be fettered.

As long as we remember our safe words, at least.

[Martinus]

I blame car focussed urban development and depopulation of provincial cities.

I initially thought someone was joking. That I saw it was Tyr. 

[Josquius]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

[HVC]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

[Neil]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

I guess they don't have cars, and the ladies want a guy with a car?

[Josquius]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

Pretty much.
Recognition is really growing in Japan as in Europe that mid 20th century urban planning decisions were short sighted and incorrect.
The donutting of cities, the decline of city centres and the increased distances people need to travel in the course of their every day life mean amongst other things that  community spirit has fell through the floor and that people just aren't meeting each other anymore.
The drive to fix this is a big part of the move in recent years to try and restore vitality to city centres. Additionally it is increasingly common for city councils to organise matchmaking events.

[alfred russel]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

I guess they don't have cars, and the ladies want a guy with a car?

Or maybe they drive old Honda Civics, which can be emasculating. Also, I doubt any of them can get work as coal miners, which is the ultimate in emasculation.

[Neil]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

Pretty much.
Recognition is really growing in Japan as in Europe that mid 20th century urban planning decisions were short sighted and incorrect.
The donutting of cities, the decline of city centres and the increased distances people need to travel in the course of their every day life mean amongst other things that  community spirit has fell through the floor and that people just aren't meeting each other anymore.
The drive to fix this is a big part of the move in recent years to try and restore vitality to city centres. Additionally it is increasingly common for city councils to organise matchmaking events.

People's lifestyles don't really support meeting other people.  We have nice TVs, computers and phones that connect us to the outside world, and even if you did go out and about, you still wouldn't want to try and meet someone new anyways.  They'd either think you were weird for talking to them, or think you were trying to rape them and attack you.

The society of fear and modern technology have united to create more and more recluses.

[Neil]

err yeah, agreeing with the governments of many of said cities is joking

the government in Japan said that cars keeps 1/4 of unmarried Japanese men from getting laid?

I guess they don't have cars, and the ladies want a guy with a car?

Or maybe they drive old Honda Civics, which can be emasculating. Also, I doubt any of them can get work as coal miners, which is the ultimate in emasculation.

Cars and their upkeep are pretty expensive in Japan.  If you're one of these guys, you're usually a workforce fringe player, and you don't have the cash for a car.

[MadImmortalMan]

The article is all about guys. I'm assuming the girls are having the same problem?

[HVC]

It's also a quarter of unmarried guys over 30. What's the percentage e of Japanese men over 30 who are married?

[Valmy]

The article is all about guys. I'm assuming the girls are having the same problem?

Lets just say the other 75% of guys are really enjoying themselves.