In many cultures, the first kiss is often considered important for the transition into the adult world.
However, a recent survey of Japanese high school students revealed some surprising data.
Research has shown that four out of five boys aged 15 to 18 have not yet experienced their first kiss.
The situation is not much better for girls either, considering that only a little more than a quarter of high school girls kissed for the first time.
The figures represent the lowest figures recorded since Japan first began surveying the sexual habits of teenagers in 1974, which could be worrying for a country with one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
A study by the Japanese Association for Sexuality Education (Talk) surveyed 12.562 high school and college students, asking them about everything from kissing to sexual intercourse.
The survey is conducted every six years, and a decrease in the number of young people who experienced their first kiss was recorded compared to 2005.
However, this year's report shows that kissing is not the only activity in decline.
More and more young Japanese have never had sex.
The covid 19 pandemic could be one of the reasons, according to experts.
The closure of schools and restrictions on physical contact likely affected many of the students, as it occurred "at a sensitive time when they were becoming interested in sexuality," says Yusuke Hayashi, professor of sociology at Musashi University.
However, the research revealed another piece of data - the number of teenagers who said they masturbated was at a record high.
The results appeared after an earlier study that showed that in almost half of marriages in Japan no sex.
Japan already has the oldest population in the world, according to UN data.
Every tenth Japanese is 80 or older
In March, there is a diaper manufacturer Oji Holdings announced that he would stop to produce diapers for babies and that he will turn to making diaper for adults.
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