Blogpost 6:Carnivore Women

If we look closely the rather dramatic change in societal roles between Japanese men and women has brought the limelight on two major issues power relation and gender equality.  The emergence of both herbivore men and carnivore women really disrupted the stable gender system in Japan.  From my previous blogposts we holistically defined and identified who the herbivore men are.  We efficiently exhausted the discussion on this gender group by looking at various viewpoints and critical issues surrounding them.  And so for this blogpost, let us briefly look at the other end of the straw.  We will now focus our discussion on the counterpart of the herbivore men the carnivore women.

For the sake of proper contextualization, the points-of-discussion for this blogpost will revolve around two vital components of women studies  feminism and  empowerment.  We will also take another look at carnivore women to have a more concrete grasp of their gender identity.  But don’t you fret we will only touch the fundamental information to avoid too much technicalities in the discussion.  By doing so we will see how these concepts complement the emergence of carnivore women.

I.     Feminism

When it comes to women studies the term feminism is a powerful tool which serves as a general framework in the attempt to explain and understand women.  We can even say that this has been the offspring of the various movements and initiatives to defend the female group all over the world.  And since we are looking at Japan’s carnivore women I think that it is only necessary to know a little bit about this concept as well.

I have come across Prof. Jane Freedman’s study entitled, “Concepts in theSocial Sciences: Feminism”.  In her study she stated that, Feminism is a term that emerged long after women started questioning their inferior status and demanding an amelioration in their social position.  Feminism is used to refer to the late-nineteenth-century and early-twentieth-century feminist movements that were concerned with gaining equal rights for women particularly the right of suffrage.

Following this account I think that feminism came to birth because of the different struggles and injustices done to women.  More than just a concept or framework I believe that feminism is a direct movement developed by women themselves in order to attract attention raise awareness and fight for their human and social rights.  It encompasses women values beliefs rights and ideologies that aim not only to uphold the stature of women but also recognize their role in the society.   

In actuality feminism is a term very difficult to define due to a number of explanations and descriptions made by scholars all in a systematic effort to operationalize this concept. I encountered Dr. Karen Offen’s journal article entitled,“Defining Feminism: A Comparative Historical Approach”.  In this journal Dr. Offen mentioned that Feminism is theory that men and women should be equal politically, economically and socially.  And for this blogpost, we will stick with this simple definition to avoid confusion.  I think that Dr. Offen’s definition summarizes the core goal of feminism – gender equality.  The battle for liberty has always been a part of women’s live.  I also agree that political, economic, and social aspects are the areas where women have minimal representation, even in the present time.

II.   Women Empowerment

Now if feminism is the movement aimed to defend women, then empowerment could be considered as the desired outcome.  Truth is there is a dominant patriarchal syste, if not in all, in most countries.  There is an evident bias in the way people treat men and women.  Gender-wise society favors men than women.  It can be seen in all facets such as work home and community.  These may be attributed to the roles expected from both gender groups.  And with the birth of feminism and feminist theories empowerment was seen as the key in achieving gender equality.

In a journal article by Ms. Nanette Page and Ms. Cheryl Czuba entitled, “Empowerment:What Is It?”, a simple definition of this term was provided.  According to them Empowerment is a multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives.  It is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives their communities and in their society by acting on issues they define as important.”

From this take-off point, I think that empowerment is a venue that allows people to capitalize on their resources to achieve their desired state.  It provides opportunities that would eventually lead to positive change and development.  As mentioned, empowerment is multi-dimensional which means that it does not have a single definition due to its broad complexity.

In one of the publications of USAID entitled, “Gender Equality and Female Empowerment”, the agency provided a more concrete definition of women empowerment.  According to USAID Female empowerment is achieved when women and girls acquire the power to act freely, exercise their rights, and fulfill their potential as full and equal members of society. While empowerment often comes from within, and individuals empower themselves cultures, societies, and institutions create conditions that facilitate or undermine the possibilities for empowerment. 

The agency also identified seven  guiding principles to improve the lives of citizens around the world by advancing equality between females and males, and empowering women and girls to participate fully in and benefit from the development of their societies, as follows:

1.       Integrate gender equality and female empowerment into USAID work.

2.       Pursue and inclusive approach to foster equality.

3.       Build partnership across a wide range of stakeholders.

4.       Harness science, technology, and innovation to reduce gender gaps.

5.       Address the unique challenges in crisis and conflict-affected environments.

6.       Serve as a thought-leader and a learning community.

7.       Hold ourselves accountable.

III. Wild Beasts

In my previous blogpost, I have mentioned that carnivore women have become a concurrent trend in Japan.  I even gave a distinct account of the carnivore women in relation to their reactions to the emergence of the herbivore men.  And so, allow me to just briefly add some more traits to this gender group. I have come across a journal article by Prof. Jhana Bach entitled, “From Boxed-In Daughters to Carnivore Women:Using Gender Metaphors in the Classroom”.  Prof. Bach discussed that The shift in masculinity made famous by grass-eating men seems to have given rise to a corresponding shift in femininity, engendering carnivore females women who are straightforward about getting what they want.  She even added that a carnivore woman pursues whatever she wants like a predator whether it is sex or career success. Carnivorous women are looked upon as 99.9% undesirable.  These ladies are interested in relationships and are pro-active enough to go out and seek them.

With this description of carnivore women it can be said that the traits of the conventional Japanese males and females have indeed reversed.  I think that this sudden change was not solely brought about by the shift in masculinity among men but also a deviation of women from the never-ending stereotypes geared towards them. 

In a nutshell the emergence of carnivore women could be implicit effect feminism.  By shifting from herbivore to carnivore, women were able to freely express their feelings.  They became aggressive in taking the lead and competing with the opposite sex.  These carnivores gradually earned recognition in the society.  But just like with the case of herbivore men, these carnivores were not fully accepted in the Japanese society.

But know this I believe that the emergence of carnivore women was not purely influenced by the appearance of herbivore men.   Although there is somehow a mutually-exclusive relationship between these two genders, carnivore women should not be treated and perceived as a seed yielded from the domino effect created by the herbivores.     

IV.     Perspective 

       In retrospect I sincerely believe that carnivore women are not by products of the emergence of herbivore men. I thnk that this is an indirect manner of these women to change the way people look at them. Escaping the stereotype and turning on a new leaf. They have grabbed the opportunity to prove to the world that they can be something more than what it meets the eye. A breath of fresh air. Let us all remember that no one likes to be pushed aside and driven in a corner. We deserved to be treated equally with utmost respect and as a man i believe that women should be treated with love,care and compassion. No questions asked.

        

Blogpost 5: In the Eyes of the Critics

By now we have already talked about a lot of things regarding Japan’s Herbivore Men.  From their social identity to the effects and implications of their emergence and to their way of living we have truly put so much effort into understanding this gender group.  I can even say that the spotlight was placed to them far too long already.

And so for this blogpost allow me to change the tone of discussion a little bit and look at other angles surrounding these herbivores.  From this point on I will look at the way other gender groups perceive the herbivore men namely the older generation and japanese women.   

I.     Charge it to Experience

In my previous blogpost I have already mentioned that there is a dominant male culture in Japan called salarymen.  These men are also referred to as male white collar workers.  They are attributed with traits such as self-sacrifice hard work and perseverance. Eventually they became a social category and the standard of masculinity in Japan. 

The emergence of herbivore men challenged the social structure of salarymen.  But I think that what is more interesting to know is the various reactions that they have about these herbivores.

I have come across Ms. Christina Akiko Tamaru’s study entitled “The Herbivorous Men of Japan: Negotiating New Masculinities” Ms. Tamaru discussed that the sôshokukei danshi’s critics can be categorized into two groups the disdainful peers of the sôshokukei danshi and the older proponents of salaryman masculinity. Within each group there are professional academic constituents mixed with casual amateur participants.  

Based on the older generation’s opinion Ms. Tamaru mentioned that The older generation especially former salarymen seems to disapprove of the sôshokukei danshi on the basis of their departure from dominant masculine models and the supposed threat that they pose to the hegemony of the salaryman model. 

Let us bear in mind that Japan follows a strict patriarchal system.  and for the longest time since the end of the World War II the salarymen served as the key to Japan’s survival and revival.  I think that it is only logical and natural that these salarymen deny herbivores the recognition they want. 

Ms. Tamaru was able to identify one strong reason for this treatment.  Still according to her study These older generation critics harp on the sôshokukei danshi generation for their supposed failure to produce offspring that will sustain future generations and the growth or maintenance of the Japanese as a people.

In my first blogpost I cited the Book of Genesis to establish that God commanded man and woman to be fruitful and increase in number.  And continuing the discussion in my third blogpost where I presented the decrease in Japan’s populace I believe that the older generation of Japanese males really strikes a valid reason for their judgments.  Ms. Tamaru even added that the foundation of the criticism voiced by older generation males lies in their own experiences with masculinity and in the specific paradigms that those experiences have engendered.

II.   Carnivore Women

If there is one gender group directly affected by the emergence of herbivore men it would definitely be the women.  With the unprecedented emergence of these herbivores the Japanese women also took a shift in perspective regarding their societal roles.

The ironic thing with the rise of herbivore men is the appearance of carnivore women.  I encountered Mr. Evan Koike’s thesis entitled “Gendering Knowledge in Discourse on Japan’s Herbivore Boys”.  In this study Mr. Koike mentioned that Japan is seeing concurrent trend  the rise of carnivorous women  women to take the initiative with men and make the first move when it comes to dating. These women embrace eating meat and are aggressive in their careers. They eschew traditional feminine tasks such as cooking or doing household chores and are less enthusiastic about marriage than previous generations.  Moreover these women have positive gogetter attitudes toward life.

With changes in roles and perception these carnivore women show signs of empowerment most especially in career and profession.  They were able to beak the various stereotypes which caged women and pushed them in a corner while glory and praise were given to men.

But the real question at hand remains unanswered how did women react to the emergence of herbivore men?  I have come across an article by Mr. Kyojiro Kagenuma entitled “Grass Fed: An Explanation of HerbivoreCulture”.  In this article

 he stated that traditionally women do not refuse the advances of Japanese man.  But the fact that modern Japanese women can and do reject Herbivore men at the point where it hurts their pride so badly that they simply cower is ludicrous.  

Mr. Kagenuma added that the feminist situation got so bad that Japanese men actually get more pleasure from anime and video game characters than from real women.  The women aren't happy and some have labelled the behavior as misogyny and are now being forced to change their entitled attitudes.

III.     Perspective 

        

        There is a well known saying that goes you cannot please everyone. I think that this is well fit in the case of the herbivore men. Since their rise a couple of years back different opinions and viewpoints about them rose quickly and if there is one thing I know about opinions it is the fact that they are strongly expressed. Reality is herbivore men demand respect. Although they may not be expressive enough to voice their feelings I believe that respect is one thing deserved by everyone including the herbivore men.

    

     But if there is one thing I am sure about I know that there will come a time when herbivore men will be truly welcome in Japanese society. Not because they conform to norms or mores but because they have proven themselves worthy of acceptance.

Blogpost 4: The Herbivore Way

Countless times have I mentioned that masculinity is one of the issues always lurking Japan’s herbivore men.  From my previous blogposts I have already established how different these herbivores are in comparison to conventional Japanese males.  In terms of traits of manliness and intimacy for the opposite sex herbivore men truly proved to us that change is a constant variable in this world. But aside from looking at the masculine traits of these herbivores another way of understanding this unique gender group is to spend a day or two in their shoes.  In this way we can tap their psychological component and discover where these herbivores are coming from.  So for this blogpost let us carefully look into two important aspects of the herbivore lifestyle.

I.     The Value for Wellness

In western society herbivore men are considered as the breed of males called metrosexuals.  Most scholars cannot help but notice the close similarities between herbivore men and metrosexuals especially in terms of hygiene and fashion.  Both show signs of being too concern about their physical features and appearance since they are really sensitive as to how people perceive them attractive or not.

A study by Ms. Linda Tuncay entitled “Conceptualization of Masculinity among New Breed of MaleConsumers” made a clear description of metrosexuals.  According to Ms. Tuncay The term metrosexual was first coined by theorist Mark Simpson in his 1994 book Male Impersonators Men Performing Masculinity.  This type of new man emphasizes appearance fashion and material goods. These men often described being in good shape having style and being well groomed as all-important characteristics of masculinity.

Following this concrete definition of metrosexuals we can clearly see that herbivore men share parallel traits with them. 

I have come across Ms. Christina Akiko Tamaru’s research entitled “The Herbivorous Men ofJapan: Negotiating New Masculinities”.  Ms. Tamaru stated that The sôshokukei danshi are relatively young members of society who have adopted these beauty practices simultaneously as a marker of their subscription to youth culture and also as an element of performed deviance from conventional masculinity. Beauty products and beauty salons which specialize in areas such as hair removal weight loss and skin care became an avenue for young men to employ these practices as part of their masculinity.

But no matter how closely similar metrosexuals and herbivore men are there are still many things setting them apart.  Going back to Ms. Tuncay’s study she stated that For metrosexuals the importance of an attractive appearance was tied in part to attracting the opposite sex and assisting in the attainment of success in the workplace.  Now if we look back at my previous blogposts we know that herbivore men are not interested in committing to relationships.  And on top of that these herbivores are also not interested to successfully climb the corporate ladder since most of them are freelance workers. 

I think that Japanese male engagement with these forms of beauty work and enhancement in personal wellness not only challenges conventional gender constructions but also signifies evolution and change in Japan’s society.  We may also look at these practices as an attempt to express oneself in a conservative confined culture.

II.   Change in Career Outlook

In Japan the term salaryman is most commonly used to refer to masculinity.  One can even say that this word is a strong definition of men’s manliness.  But with the emergence of herbivore men even this term had undergone certain changes in meaning.

In a recent study by Mr. Romit Dasgupta entitled “Performing Masculinities" The Salaryman at Work and Play he made a vivid account of Japanese salarymen.  According to Mr. Dasgupta The salaryman symbolizes that everyman the kigyo senshi or corporate warrior without whom the postWorld War II economic miracle would not have been possible and who was both the beneficiary and the victim of its fallouts. Although the term salaryman and all that the term connotes gained widespread currency over the half century since the end of the war in actual fact the salaryman as a distinct model of masculinity emerged  or rather was created  in the context of Japan’s process of nation building and industrialization.

This description of Mr. Dasgupta made it clear that the role of salarymen is very critical not only in Japan’s economy but also in the overall nation building process.  Even though women also played a role in reviving Japan’s economy by being part of the labor force it is the males who are considered and seen as representing and important in this aspect.

Now how did the emergence of herbivore men change this perspective? 

I encountered Ms. Aulia Dwi Nastiti’s paper entitled “Redefining the Concept ofCounter Culture: Study Case of Soushokukei Danshii”.  According to her Result of some studies revealed that herbivore men are trying to refuse the conservative views in some aspects.  Soshokukei danshii show their dislike toward the salary-man routines with overtime works and hierarchical occupation as fundamentally unsatisfying as simply a doorway to a monotonous life of small rewards so they prefer part-time jobs while pursuing their passions.

An article by Mr. Justin McCurry entitled “Japan's Grass Eaters turn their backs on Macho Ways” supported this claim.  He stated that The rise of the herbivorous man has met with mixed reactions. Traditionalist employers complain that they lack the work ethic of older generations while commentators blame their sexual abstinence and relative thrift for the low birthrate and the weak economy.

III.     Perspective

     

            A person's lifestyle is equal to his was of living.For the herbivores I feel that their deviation from the conventional way is not just influenced by external factors in their environment. I sincerely believe that this is more related to their personal choice. This may be an opportunity to better them though it is not viewed as good by many people. It is simply a change in priorities.

    For me there is really nothing wrong with how herbivore men live their lives. I mean coming from a liberal point of view where individuality is encourage change in lifestyle may not be a bad idea. True that there will always be a negative perceived effects when someone does not conform to social norms. However I will always stand my ground that what is more important is how we treat and respect other people. Because at the end of the day he will not judge us by how we look rather by how big our hearts are.

Blogpost 2: Origin of Herbivore

I.     Birth of the Herbivores

Everyone has a story to tell.  If there is one thing as old as time it must be history.  History provides us with details of the past.  In a way it serves as a guide for us to understand things as to how and why they came to be.  History explains and makes sense of what happened before and prepares us to face the present with a clearer perspective. 

My first blogpost talked about Japan’s Herbivore Men.  In retrospect we now know who these herbivores are and how they differ from conventional males.  But now, allow me to take you back in time to know when and how it all begun.

As I have mentioned in my first blogpost the term herbivore men or “sôshokukei danshi” was first coined by columnist Maki Fukasawa in October 2006.  Etymologically, soushokukei danshi is Japanese phrase that literally means grass eatingmen.  

t is pointed out to a group of young men who seemed to be different than common typical of men in Japanese society.  Ms. Fukasawa first used the term herbivore men in her essays posted on Nikkei Business online.  Now in one article written by Mr. Gordon Clay entitled, "Herbivore Men", he said that Ms. Fukasawa used the phrase to describe young men who, although having a general interest in heterosexual love and sex, do not show positive attitudes toward them.  At that time, however, the term did not receive special attention.  

But literatures and studies would show that it wasn’t until circa 2008-2009 that the term herbivore men became popular in Japan, especially among scholars.  I encountered a research by Prof. Masahiro Morioka entitled,"A Phenomenological Study of Herbivore Men".  Prof. Morioka mentioned that, From 2008 to 2009, herbivore men  became a trendy, widely used term in Japanese. It flourished in all sorts of media, including TV the Internet, newspapers and magazines, and could even occasionally be heard in everyday conversation.  He further discussed that, By year 2010 it had become a standard noun among Japanese.  The appearance of this term has radically changed the way people look at young men. It can perhaps even be described as an epochal event in the history of the male gender in Japan.

    Now taking these facts into account, the emergence of herbivore men is truly revolutionary and phenomenal milestone for the Japanese.  I think that their emergence suddenly gave variety to the strict Japanese culture of gender branding men and women as carnivores and herbivores,    respectively.  These herbivore men redefined masculinity by giving it new flavor and spicing up  the concept in appropriation to the needs of the ever-evolving world.

 

II.   Talk of the Town

In this section, allow me to take my discussion to the time when herbivore men were first noticed, described, and studied in Japan. 

I have come across Ms. Aulia Dwi Nastiti’s paper entitled, "Redefiningthe Concept of Counter Culture: Study Case of Sôshokukei Danshi".  At the onset of the emergence of herbivore men Ms. Nastiti explained that, Popular discourses identify soushokukei danshi as young men approximately on their 20s or 30s, mostly heterosexual, but having lack of interest in heteronormative activities such as dating, sex, and marriage.  They are also much less competitive, in a sense that, unlike the older generation who climbs the hierarchical career in a big company, herbivore men prefer to live for their passion and have part-time job as source of income.  They have correspondently different life-style that commonly attributed to feminine trait. For instance, fashion-conscious, take care of their physical appearance, love shopping for sweet stuffs, enjoy cooking and handicrafts, and refrain from smoking or drinking.

These were the first observations made about herbivore men.  Through time, we can still see that these remarks became the point of discussion in Japan, which later became basis for the scrutiny they received from all sorts of social groups. 

Due to these circumstances Prof. Morioka even gave tips to Japanese women in case they want to be involved with herbivore men, during that time.  Still according to his research, "A Phenomenological Study of Herbivore Men," Prof. Morioka added that There are three requirements for becoming involved with herbivore men: Herbivore men lack assertiveness, so the woman must take the lead in romance Excessive scheming and romantic techniques are off limits, and should be replaced with more easily understood displays of affection; and  herbivore men like women of substance, so women must elevate their human qualities

These advices became major considerations for Japanese women in dealing with herbivore men.  But looking at these tips, I can’t help but notice that they are all directed to one thing: empowering women to take lead in relationships.  I think that Prof. Morioka gave these requirements to serve as general guidelines for women.  I also believe that it is only fitting for women to adjust to this new breed of men.  After all, if men evolve and change, can’t women do the same too?   

III. Perspective

For me history is more than mere stories of the past.  They ring with the truth. It tells us tales which may bear lessons intended for us to listen and understand.  History is a reminder that things came to be for a reason.  Just like in the case of herbivore men they also have a history to tell.  And a very interesting one for that matter.  

Blogpost 3:The Ripple Effect of Herbivore Culture

Much has been said about Japan’s herbivore men.  From my previous blogposts I have discussed two  basic details about them who they are and how they came to be.  By knowing these we were able to create a clearer more comprehensive image of these herbivores.  However my discussions about them by farr were very general and only touched the surface.  So now let me dig deeper and take the discussion a notch higher by looking into the effects and impact of herbivore men to Japan’s society and culture.
Based on the literatures about herbivore men there are three  major areas of Japanese society affected by their emergence: economy  family and gender.  From this point on I will attempt to provide a thorough discussion about each of these areas.


I.    Economic Impact

In an article written by Mr. Kyojiro Kagenuma entitled Grass Fed 2 "Herbivore Men and Japan’s Troubling Economy he described the role of herbivore men in the economic growth of Japan".  According to Mr. Kagenuma the average Herbivore man can earn 6 million Yen annually; after income tax, this would yield 3.6 million Yen or $36,000 net, which amounts to 300,000 Yen or $3000 monthly.  Deduct monthly cost of living at the outskirts of Tokyo, which is 120,000 Yen, the Herbivore Man will still have a disposable income of 180,000 Yen, or $1800 - about 5 times more disposable income than if he was married.


From this statement alone we can directly observe the vital role of herbivore men in the Japanese economy.  If herbivore men have five  times more disposal income than that of married men then it only goes to show that they have five times more purchasing and saving capacity than married men.  In relation to this they have that much power in contributing to their country’s economic progress. 



Given this kind of situation wherein herbivore men may be considered richer than an average Japanese married man then we may even say that herbivore men have become primary consumers and may even be prioritized in the market.  Mr. Kagenuma added that In fact though Japan's marketplace has traditionally catered to women the herbivore men are becoming a growing consumer market in Japan with many products that are specifically designed for them.  If this trend continues then we should see a shift in purchasing power from women to men.  What this would do is create new products and services that are uniquely male-oriented just as video games had been uniquely male for the best part of 30 years.


I think that herbivore men have a positive and significant impact to Japan’s economy.  Not only do these herbivores created new market opportunities but they also shifted the market priorities from one gender group to another.  They became major players as consumers and in the process; help sustain the harmonious economic balance of their country.


II.    The Crash of Kazoku

Kazoku is the Japanese word for family.  As we know family is the basic unit of a community.  But with the emergence of herbivore men a drastic decrease in the Japanese population has been reported.  In a way this has been greatly attributed to the existence of herbivore men.  A study by Mr. Eric Gallager entitled Explanations for the "Japanese Demographic Crisis presented the populace of Japan".  Mr. Gallager reported that in 2011 Japan’s population declined by over 200,000 people.  Besides a declining population other elements of Japan’s demographic crisis include a rise in number of grown children still living at home with their parents a drop in marriage and child-bearing and a drop in the average number of siblings per person.  This may simply imply that there are fewer families established because of the influence of these Japanese herbivores.

Let us find out why.
Columnist Joel Kotkin’s article entitled "Beware the Herbivore Effect" discussed how herbivore men are responsible for the decrease in Japan’s population.  According to him One indication of this breakdown in family ties has been a gradual loss of interest in marriage among men.  By 2010 a third of Japanese women entering their 30s were single as were roughly one in five of those entering their 40s. That's roughly eight times the percentage in 1960 and twice that in 2000.  By 2030 almost one in three Japanese males may be unmarried by age 50.  At this rate Japan will most likely decline not only in population but in many aspects of their society.  In the long run the country itself won’t be able to sustain and preserve their culture and heritage if this trend continues.  Mr. Kotkin even added that,Herbivores it appears are less likely to marry. The herbivorization of Japan can't be good news in a country that suffers from a plunging marriage rate a declining workforce and a fertility rate so low that adult diapers outsell those for babies.
I believe that herbivore men’s effect on Japan’s population is more threatening than another World War.  The real effect of this trend may take time before we can finally feel its impact.  But worst case scenario is Japan may suffer a great loss in so many aspects that recovering may be next to impossible.


III.    Masculinity Redefined
In my previous blogposts masculinity has always been a part of the issues revolving around herbivore men.  Now allow me to discuss how these herbivores truly affect and redefined masculinity in Japan.
As I have mentioned before Japan had a strict culture of gender: branding men and women as carnivores and herbivores respectively.  Prof. Masahiro Morioka’s article entitled "A Real Study of Japanese Herbivore Men, categorized Japanese men into eight types based on their level of aggressiveness in approaching women."



The Eight Types of Japanese Men

1.Inexperienced herbivore man doesn’t know how to approach women.

2.Experienced herbivore man  a soothing type.  He is used to interacting with women.  He does not have high expectations when it comes to women.

 3.Inexperienced carnivore-type man he doesn’t have much experience so he will push a woman doggedly.  Internally, he is frustrated and suffering.

4. Experienced carnivore-type man  While probing a woman’s feelings, he attempts to seduce her even when it seems impossible.  He constantly tries to chat with women.

5.Inexperienced internally herbivore, externally carnivore-type man  a herbivore man who is trying to be manly.

6.Experienced internally herbivore, externally carnivore-type man  while he is a herbivore with a sensitive heart, he is able to assertively take the lead and make sure a woman enjoys herself.  He keeps his partners for a long time.

7.Inexperienced internally carnivore-type, externally herbivore man wears a herbivore mask to conceal his carnivore nature.  He may suddenly attack a woman when she is alone.

8. Experienced internally carnivore-type, internally herbivore man has a wild ferocity in his heart but is able to sensitively pay attention to a woman’s feelings and treat her gently.  He does not mind having relationships with multiple women.


Based on Prof. Morioka’s assessment on Japanese men, herbivore men have truly reconstructed how masculinity is seen in Japan.  With their emergence, there became a need to reconstruct the views about men in relation to love, relationship, and family.  From the conventional powerful and aggressive males, Japan realized that there may be variations to this sex group; hence, the eight types of Japanese men.  Each type is unique and mutually exclusive from the others.  The sense of real manliness has always been a critical issue about herbivore men.  But I think that in a so-called, “gender-equal society,” these herbivores proved that they can co-exist with others in harmony.


IV.    Perspective
The three aspects that I have presented above are only some of the impacts of herbivore men.  The list could go on and on but we can still not exhaust it.  What is more interesting about them is the dynamics that they have as this new breed of men is still a work in progress.
I believe that it is truly a matter of outlook as to how we accept the effects of these herbivores.  We can see it negatively or we can opt to look at the silver lining.  I think that what is more important is the way we deal with these effects and how we turn them into something beneficial.  Let us always remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  So it is up to us if we will consider these herbivore men beautiful or not.