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The incideence of Japanese men as herbivores.

This is a subject that interests me greatly, the feminisation of masculinity. Now Conor would no doubt be appalled, him being a warrior from a Napoleonic age, resurrected and armed with a paint brush, by such theories, but ever since my first year in London when I noticed the prevalence of pink in men’s fashion the influence of both sexes on each other has well fascinated me.

You could put the pink preference down to a fashion trend, concocted by female fashion designers at a particular time, perhaps Aine would know more on this angle. But, yesterday I read a piece in the Japan Times about how more young men are becoming herbivores (soshokukei). Now by herbivores farm animals are not implied, but it is a phenomenological term which has been attached to men who display traits which diverge from traditional notions of masculinity (referred to sometimes as carnivores in Japan). Here’s how herbivores, mostly young men, are classified in Japan.

• They are not as competitively minded about their jobs as men in older generations.

• They are fashion conscious and eat sparingly so they can stay thin and fit into skintight clothes.

• They are chummy with their moms and often go shopping together.

• They are not interested in dating girls, having relationships, or even having sex (choosing from a plethora of “self-help” toys instead).

• They are very tight with their money and often carry several retailers’ “point cards” around, declaring that those who don’t pinch pennies are stupid.

It’s quite funny to think that being chummy with your mum is somehow the antithesis of masculinity, but I understand what is meant. The report even suggests a positive correlation between self-esteem and having their nails look nice.

From my own unscientific observations in Japan, some of these points seem evident. When I wander into say Comme Ca it’s inevitable that I immediately sense that I look like shit compared to the staff, who don’t have a hair out of place and all look rather well and happy, suited and surrounded in stylish clothes, much like a cow in a Kerrygold ad, or a pg in shit.