The Salaryman: Dying Out with the Japanese Economy

Tokyo, Japan, 18 June . The Salaryman: the stereotypical Japanese executive works hard and plays hard. His main focus is his company, which will take care of him for life. When not slaving away for the firm, his interests are golf, watches, cars, and a good night out on the town.[br]

Tokyo, Japan, 18 June . The Salaryman: the stereotypical Japanese executive works hard and plays hard. His main focus is his company, which will take care of him for life. When not slaving away for the firm, his interests are golf, watches, cars, and a good night out on the town.[br]

This breed of corporate samurai seems to be dying, along with Japan’s economy. Enter the grass-eater: A 20-30 year-old Japanese male who lives with his mother, is uninterested in women, is de-motivated at work, and is an herbivore. Yes, that’s right, he eats grass, but not bush.

The Japanese always seem to take things to another level, and the Japanese emo is no exception. Grass-eaters favor platonic relationships over sex, are not inclined to start a family, and feel no social need to conform to their parents’ expectations. Some even accuse the grass-eater of being gay, but that might imply they had some sort of a sex-drive or carnal inclination in the first place.

“In Japan, sex is translated as ‘relationship in flesh,'” Takuro Morinago, who coined the term said, “so I named those boys ‘herbivorous boys’ since they are not interested in flesh.”[br]

A prominent social critic asks, “What is happening to the nation’s manhood?”

However, some analysts claim that these men do have very real sexual needs. They believe that these millions of “parasite singles”, mooching off their parents, have all but lost the motivation to find a partner with the ubiquity of pornography. This is said to be one reason why condom sales have been sliding for ten years.

“It is precisely this generation that has become disenchanted with Japan’s economic system. They were once promised long and prosperous careers like their fathers had, but after witnessing the country’s economic troubles of the 90s, and again now, they feel cheated. They feel like the system let them down. What good is it to put your job first if it all comes to this?” asked economics professor Shugo Kawasaki.

They facts paint a striking picture:

• Japan’s largest ad agency, Dentsu, reported that 60 percent of men in their early 20s and at least 42 percent of men between 23 and 34 consider themselves grass-eating men.

• Japanese dating agency, Partner Agent, surveyed unmarried men in their 30s and discovered that 60 percent of them claim to be herbivores.

• A Japanese insurance company, Lifenet, conducted a similar survey of men between 20 and 30 and found that 75 percent identified themselves as grass-eating men.

• According to business magazine Weekly Diamond, more than 80 percent of 35-year-olds in Japan live on a yearly income of two million yen (US $20,000) – a key poverty benchmark.

While this group does not earn much, they don’t put too much emphasis on making money. Which is good for them considering the economic conditions of Japan today.

The country’s economy recently experienced its biggest recorded contraction ever (in Q1 2009 Japan’s GDP shrank 4 per cent for the quarter, or a numbing 15 per cent on an annualized basis) and has shrunk for four consecutive quarters.

Sony, Panasonic, Toyota and Nissan all reported losses in May, and most are expecting the same for the current fiscal year. Unemployment is at its highest since 2003.

But this doesn’t stop them from spending money where most men fear to tread, adorning themselves in makeup and even bras. These men are more effeminate than ever. In what has been dubbed a “symbolic castration in the home” these former alpha-males even sit on the toilet to pee.

According to Matsushita Electric Works, more than 40 percent of Japanese men take a seat. And for those that still live at home and decide to stand to pee? That’s what the Angel’s Knee Pillow is for – a device to kneel on to avoid splashing while urinating.

Economically, Japan is suffering from a lack of spending in what used to be one of the most spend-happy groups.

“Consumer spending and overt displays of wealth are most prevalent in societies that have recently emerged from poverty like much of Eastern Europe and SE Asia,” said Kawasaki. “But look at those with a richer heritage like Japan. It’s not in style to show off anymore. As societies progress, wealth is hidden. This is hurting Japan’s economy today.”

Self-confessed herbivore Junichiro Hori said, “Some guys still try to be manly and try to be like strong, but you know personally I’m not afraid to show my vulnerability because being vulnerable or being sensitive is not a weakness.”

But of course the older Japanese men are much more conservative. CNN reported that a businessman in a bar remarked, “You need to be carnivorous when you make decisions in your life. You should be proactive, not passive.”

Hori agreed economics has contributed to his herbivore-ism. “When I completed my university studies a lot of my friends were trying to work for a big company that pays well and I wasn’t interested in that. I am kind of struggling financially and my father is not very happy about it.”

One thing that hasn’t changed much is these men – whether the busy executives of the 80s or the apathetic herbivores of today – tend to put the importance of a family rather low.

“The irony is that just when we thought we got away from the busy salaryman who put more priority on golf and late-night benders, that same demographic now doesn’t want a family,” noted Kawasaki. “In both situations it’s the women who should be unhappy. These men seem to be remaining selfish, but in a different way.”

There is a wider question too: where Japanese males go, will western boys in general follow? Speaking as a full-blooded female,I have to say: I hope not.

Hiroko Mirafiori, EconomyWatch.com