The latest survey by the Japan Association for Sex Education (JASE) has found that only about 22.8% of high school boys in Japan have experienced their first kiss—a historic low since the survey began in 1974. Conducted every six years, the JASE survey tracks youth sexual behaviors across junior high, high school, and university levels. The 2023 survey, which involved 12,562 valid responses from students across Japan, reflects the pandemic’s ongoing impact on youth socialization.

Pandemic impact on teen social interactions

A JASE expert attributed the drop to COVID-19 restrictions, which have limited face-to-face interactions for students. “The limited contact with others during the coronavirus outbreak may have lowered the rate of sexual activity among junior and senior high school students,” the specialist noted. Administered from August 2023 to March 2024, the survey results were released in Tokyo on November 3. The findings show a significant decline in first-kiss experiences across all age groups, a trend that began after peaking in 2005. High school girls saw a similar decrease, with 27.5% reporting a first kiss, down 13.6 percentage points from the previous survey in 2017.

The survey also revealed declines in sexual experience among high school students, with only 12% of boys and 14.8% of girls reporting having had intercourse—down by 3.5 and 5.3 points, respectively. Dating experiences also declined, particularly among junior and senior high school students. Yusuke Hayashi, a professor of quantitative sociology at Musashi University who analyzed the data, commented on these trends: “The combination of school closures and restrictions on face-to-face contact during a critical period of sexual exploration for adolescents is believed to have had an impact.”

Rising rates of self-pleasuring linked to media exposure

In contrast to declining rates of interpersonal experiences, self-pleasuring has seen an increase across all demographics, with new records reported for junior high school girls and high school students.

Professor Hayashi attributed this rise to increased exposure to sexualized content in manga and other media rather than a direct substitute for interpersonal interactions. “Since it is observed regardless of the presence or absence of sexual partners, this may be due to increased exposure to sexual expressions in manga and other media,” Hayashi explained.

Exploring the broader context of youth sexual health

Beyond these behavioral insights, the JASE announcement addressed broader topics, including the state of sex education, the understanding of sexual consent, and issues surrounding sextortion and dating violence among Japan’s youth. The findings highlight the complex interplay between social, educational, and cultural factors influencing adolescent sexuality in Japan today.