Wednesday, June 17, 2009

"Grass-Eating Men"

From Japan, the nation that gave us Pearl Harbor, sushi, and game shows like "Pie-Fighting Rodeo Bikini Girls," comes today's item of interest: the national concern over the rise of "Grass-Eating Men."

According to this article from Slate.com, women in Japan are growing concerned over the proliferation of men who lack an interest in sex, enjoy shopping and gardening, often live at home with their mothers, and generally seem to be rebelling against the hard-charging, sexually promiscuous, job-oriented, Type-A personality Japanese male stereotype of the 1980's. "I spent the night at one guy's house, and nothing happened—we just went to sleep!" one woman complained on a TV program devoted to the phenomenon. Another woman said, "It's like something's missing with them ... If they were more normal, they'd be more interested in women. They'd at least want to talk to women."

The rise of the grass-eating men is thought to be a result in part of the changes in Japanese life caused by the the bursting of Japan's economic bubble in the 1990's, which saw men who could previously count on lifetime employment at high salaries (in exchange for endless hours at work) suddenly reduced to more iffy, uncertain jobs at greatly reduced pay. With more time available and less pay, many Japanese men withdrew into a more comfortable and self-centered lifestyle that all too often didn't involve - or even need - women.

This is not an insignificant problem. Japan has one of the lowest birthrates in the world, and if growing numbers of men aren't all that interested in sex, well, I guess you can imagine the end result - fewer contestants on "Pie-Fighting Rodeo Bikini Girls." But Japanese women aren't taking this lying down, so to speak - in response to the lackadaisical sexuality of the grass-eating men, so-called "carnivorous girls" are beginning to pursue men more aggressively.

I don't think I could live in Japan. Being pursued by a "carnivorous girl" might not be so bad once in a while (especially at my age), but the rest of the grass-eating man thing just doesn't cut it. While I enjoy shopping (for groceries, books, and electronics) and gardening, I still have a healthy interest in matters of the heart (and lower regions), and thus probably couldn't qualify as a grass-eating man.

Now a yogurt-eating man, that's a different thing. And speaking of that, I guess I should go and pack my lunch so I can once again enter the economic trenches.

Sigh.

Have a good day. Eat salads, not grass. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo

P.S. - If Mike can convince you that Friday the 13th occurs on various days during the month, I can play with the calendar, too - this week's Cartoon Saturday will take place tomorrow, because Agnes and I will be in Ohio for the next few days for our granddaughter's dance recital, and I plan to spend my time playing with the Munchkins rather than posting the blog. You'll get over it, and I'll be back on Monday afternoon.

B.

8 comments:

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Eating grass? Oye

Debbie said...

That's taking Vegen one step too far. I'm so glad my Saturday night date wants to go to a steak house! ("Debbie Doesn't Date" finally found a man to change her mind, once so far.)

Mrs. Geezerette said...

I seriously suspect these men have a problem with their testosterone levels.

Leslie David said...

A date? What's that? Tell Debbie if she finds an extra guy who doesn't eat grass to send him my way. :)

Mike said...

"this week's Cartoon Saturday will take place tomorrow"

See, you're catching on. Soon you'll be ready to retire and not give **** what day it is.

It's like when John called last night at 10 and ask me if I wanted to meet him at Ted Drews. I said I'm on my way.

Debbie said...

Leslie...I had to import this guy to NY from Arkansas. Good men are few and far between if they are not married, dead or gay...especially ones who will ride their BMW motorcycle over 1000miles for a date. He's my ideal man...see him once in a blue moon, leaving me in control of the remote, the toilet seat is down and there are no dirty socks on the floor! You wouldn't want my rejects...when this one stops amusing me, I'll send him your way.

Bilbo said...

Andrea - hey, it's a cheap salad bar!

Debbie and Leslie - glad I was able to bring you together in the search for datable men.

SusieQ - I think there are women in rock band with more testosterone than some of these fellows...

Mike - you are clearly a bad influence on me.

Twinkie said...

They could spend a gazillion dollars on studies to find out what is happening to these men but I can tell you for free right now. HOMO-SEXUALS. They're gay. Not tired. Not rebelling against the stereotype. GAY! LOL

*not that there's anything wrong with that*