By Jennifer Maerz
There’s so much pressure in this country to be in a relationship — from terrible rom coms, nosy relatives, and other outside forces that can make a person feel like shit for being single. Even as someone in a serious relationship I hate seeing my friends feel like crap when they’re out of one. That’s why it’s refreshing to hear about a culture that has such a drastically different take on monogamy. Vice continues its edgy traveler series with a focus on “The Japanese Love Industry,” an entertaining look at youth culture in Tokyo where “relationship replacement services” are filling people’s hookup needs. As journalist Ryan Duffy reports, 50% of Japanese women age 18–34 are single, as are 60% of men in that same age group. One woman sums up the tone of this short documentary perfectly when she says, “Having a boyfriend is a hassle.”
So what kind of services are aiding in extended bachelorhood? Duffy tours a few, but the best (and oddest) here is definitely the cuddle cafe, where one can have their head pet, their ears cleaned, or just stare into the eyes of a stranger for under $100. Duffy signs up for an array of “mom activities and girlfriend activities” from his cuddle host, and as they gaze into each others eyes, he quips, “Nothing is weirder than this.”
If you only have a minute, check out the cuddle cafe in the trailer above, but if you want to go deeper into this anti-relationship culture in Japan, I highly recommend the full 15 minute short.
