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Cuddles or cash? 7 in 10 Japanese 20-somethings choose money over love

10 Comments
By Audrey Akcasu, RocketNews24

Valentine’s Day, as you’re undoubtedly aware thanks to the abundance of heart-shaped goods that have suddenly appeared on shop shelves, is almost upon us. But before you break out that chocolate-making kit or ass-shaped pastry for your special someone, take a look at this downer of a statistic: Seventy percent of Japanese 20-somethings recently surveyed think that money is more important than love.

Maybe you should add your bank statement to your Valentine’s Day card? If you’re already wishing Feb 14 had come and gone, read this decidedly un-romantic story.

The survey was conducted by iResearch, who questioned 200 Japanese young adults (100 female, 100 male) aged between 20-29. They didn’t dance around the topic at all, simply asking the big question: “Which is more important, love or money?”

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of money, with 69% of survey-takers preferring the cold, hard cash to soft, warm cuddles. Seriously, where’s the romance, Japan?

Members of both love and cash categories made some pretty good points when asked how they came to their respective conclusions. Let’s start with Team Money:

“The heart has some leeway, but money is indispensable.” (26, Male)

“Without money, you won’t be able to support your affections.” (29, Male)

“If you don’t have enough money, your health could suffer.” (28, Male)

“You can fall out of love, but money doesn’t just disappear.” (27, Female)

“Because I already have love!” (26, Female)

“If you have money, you won’t fall on hard times.” (28, Male)

“You can get plenty of love from the people around you, but there are many times when you would be helpless without money.” (28, Female)

“Love is felt depending on personal feelings. It’s so relative.” (26, Female)

“If you think really logically, even if you don’t have love, you may be lonely, but you’ll keep on living. But if you don’t have money, you’ll lose your livelihood, and very possibly you won’t be able to continue living.” (26, Male)

“Earning more money leads to more possibilities for your life. You can aim higher and challenge yourself more.” (29, Male)

Okay, Team Money has some pretty solid logic going there. How will Team Love counter?

“You can change your monetary circumstances through effort and hard work, but you can’t achieve love with effort alone.” (29, Male)

“For money, there’s always the chance of getting a better job, etc, but with love, if it’s not there, there’s nothing you can do!” (27, Female)

“They’re equally important, but I’d like to satisfy my heart.” (27, Female)

“[I chose love] because I don’t have a boyfriend.” (25, Female)

“I’ve never dated anyone!” (29, Male)

“I’ve never had money problems.” (27, Male)

“It’s okay with me if money were the least important thing.” (27, Female)

Team Love put up a good fight with a few logical responses (and a few that make you think, “kawai-sou“). The answers from both parties stir up interesting secondary questions, “Can love persist through financial hardship?” and “Can two people focused more on money than affection have a stable relationship?” What do you think?

The survey comes at an interesting time for Japan, as word is spreading around the world that many Japanese young people are “sexless” and uninterested in marriage, thus exacerbating the country’s birth-rate problem. Perhaps it all boils down to economics?

Regardless, Valentine’s Day is next week, so if the apple of your eye happens to be a Japanese 20-something, you may want to rethink your plans. Homemade chocolate doesn’t exactly scream “money!” but expensive gifts don’t always say, “I love you.” Choose wisely.

Source: Zaeega

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Don’t like drinking with the boss? No Promotion For You! -- Crocodile ice cream: It won’t bite back! -- Japanese men have spoken: they don’t like your nail art

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10 Comments
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Of course they find money to be most important. How else are they going to buy all those brand wallets?! How else are they going to buy all those tickets to Disneyland? How else are they going to buy all that other crap they love to buy so much? It seems to me the whole (modern) Japanese identity is based on spending damn money. Being the islanders that they are, new concepts seem to have a hard time penetrating this society. Just look at the somewhat recent "eco" trend: All it communicates is get more stuff. "Ecobags" that so many women like to carry around, need to be brand bags. Energy saving appliances need to be bought, new stuff has to be purchased. And the Japanese can feel good about themselves...

Romance is nowhere to be found here.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Knox sounds quite angry. Maybe you should try and accept their behavior instead of judging it so much.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"@ss-shaped pastry for your special someone"? Is that a thing?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Knox never said he doesn't accept their behaviour. And in some ways, he is right you know...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Money, definitely money. Love is easy to find and truly easy to keep. All you need to do is basically be a decent person and everything involved is easy easy easy. Anyone who says its hard is making it hard for themselves.

Money on the other hand actually takes effort and time to obtain and it sure as hell makes the love part even easier.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

It is hard to accept that for most people true love, a soul mate, just isn't there at 20something, at that age it's more likely to be "Mr/s Alright for now", rather than something which will be forever. People have to mature and work out what they actually want from life. Whilst money isn't the be all and end all, it sure helps, and the right person generally appears when you least expect it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Money can't buy you happiness but helps with the search

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"choose money over love"

This reminds me of Diamonds Are Forever:

Diamonds are forever, They are all I need to please me, They can stimulate and tease me, They won't leave in the night, I've no fear that they might desert me.

Diamonds are forever, Hold one up and then caress it, Touch it, stroke it and undress it, I can see ev'ry part, Nothing hides in the heart to hurt me. I don't need love, For what good will love do me? Diamonds never lie to me, For when love's gone, They'll lustre on.

Diamonds are forever, Sparkling round my little finger. Unlike men, the diamonds linger; Men are mere mortals who Are not worth going to your grave for. I don't need love, For what good will love do me?

Diamonds never lie to me, For when love's gone, They'll lustre on. Diamonds are forever, forever, forever. Diamonds are forever, forever, forever. Forever and ever.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is said- Love Conquers All . . . . . . But same can be said about the almighty DOLLAR$.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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