Rent-a-Girlfriend: How Do Love and Sex Work in Japan? | Investigate Asia

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:01][music] In Tokyo, the Japanese government is increasingly worried about the future of the country and its people. In the past 30 [music] years, the number of marriages has fallen by 30%. But Naoko [music] has nevertheless decided to tie the knot.

[00:00:19]>> With the package that you've chosen, you could design a custom bouquet. You can select the flowers you want.

[00:00:26]At just 29 years old, Naoko is thrilled at the idea of living a fairy tale. She has opted for a westernstyle ceremony for her dream wedding.

[00:00:36]>> I've loved planning it all. Tomorrow is a big day.

[00:00:46]>> To make sure everything is perfect, Naoko is assisted by professional wedding planner Yuko.

[00:00:53]>> How are you?

[00:00:53]>> You're so cute. That looks amazing on you.

[00:00:59]>> This is an empire style dress. It's like something from Napoleon's time.

[00:01:04]>> But although this may look like preparation for an ordinary wedding, in reality, it is not quite so as the young woman has no fiance.

[00:01:14]>> Yes, I completely forgot to look for a boyfriend.

[00:01:19]>> In fact, Naoko is going to get married on her own. [music] In Japan, they call this a solo wedding. It was Yukiho who invented solo weddings just over a year ago, and since then, she has [music] had hundreds of clients.

[00:01:35]>> At the beginning, I had a 34 yearear-old employee who had no plans to get married, and yet who had wanted nothing more than to wear a wedding dress since she was a little girl. She was quite upset at the idea that that was never going to happen. And one day she confided in me that she would really like to have the opportunity to dress like a bride and she asked me to organize that for her.

[00:02:02]>> No also wanted to live out her dream wedding experience all while remaining single.

[00:02:09]>> Marriage is a life choice among others.

[00:02:12]I don't know yet if I want to get married or not or if I want to live with someone or not.

[00:02:23]For the tidy sum of €2,400, the solo wedding service lasts 24 hours.

[00:02:29]It includes a wedding dress fitting, a visit to a makeup artist, a hair stylist, a florist, and ends with a photo shoot.

[00:02:36]>> Look at the camera, please.

[00:02:40]>> The goal is obviously to capture this unique moment.

[00:02:46]I'm not sad at all to not have a groom.

[00:02:50]>> Are you happy?

[00:02:53]>> Yes, >> I'm having an amazing time.

[00:02:58]>> The agency was created a year ago and has already organized over a 100 solo weddings. Each time, Yuko offers the young women an [music] actor to play the role of the groom, but all of them refuse the presence of a man.

[00:03:12]In Japan, love is under threat. There are less and less couples and the birth rate is low. The country is losing its population at a rate of around 200,000 people [music] a year. According to experts, 30% of the country's population could disappear by 2060.

[00:03:29]>> I think that today men are financially very stressed. With the financial crisis, they no longer have the courage to start a family.

[00:03:38]In addition to economic worries in the land of Tamagotchis, the virtual pet, [music] real feelings and carnal pleasures no longer have their place. A quarter of Japanese 30 to 40 year olds are virgins.

[00:03:50]>> How old are you?

[00:03:52]>> I'm 24 years old.

[00:03:53]>> Have you ever had sex?

[00:03:55]>> No.

[00:03:58]>> Inaway is a geek. He and his friends have abandoned sex. They prefer manga heroins to girls of their own age.

[00:04:07]Ah, that's brilliant.

[00:04:10]>> In the land of the rising sun, 50% of Japanese people admit to not having regular sex.

[00:04:17]>> Do you prefer sex without love or love without sex?

[00:04:22]>> Love without sex. Me too.

[00:04:25]>> Oh yes, me too.

[00:04:27]>> Paradoxically, Japan is also the world's biggest producer of pornographic films.

[00:04:31]30,000 porners are shot each year. But here also the sex crisis has had its consequences. There is a lack of actors.

[00:04:39]Porn star Shimikan [music] sounds the alarm. There are only 2,000 Bengal tigers left in the world and we are like them, an endangered species.

[00:04:49]>> Men and women are gradually growing more and more distant [music] and no longer know how to go about seducing each other.

[00:04:55]>> How long?

[00:04:56]>> How long have you been single for?

[00:04:59]>> Five long years.

[00:05:04]To vanquish their inhibitions, the recourse is preparing singletons to say this simple, "I love you." Kamazawa is going to try his luck.

[00:05:13]>> If we laugh and have fun, girls will come to us. Right guys?

[00:05:21]>> Julian is French. He plays matchmaker at fancy dress parties. His credo Franco Japanese couples and the results are there.

[00:05:30]>> Thank you for coming, Julian.

[00:05:33]With a subdued [music] or even solo sexuality and a birth rate under threat, we investigate the disturbing precursor [music] that is Japan. A potential warning of the world of tomorrow [music] in Tokyo. With a population of over 13 million, you would think it was easy to find a soulmate.

[00:05:56]However, among the city's young people, the love crisis is [music] such that it has given rise to some startling new businesses. Take rental boyfriends for example.

[00:06:06]Taro started up his company [music] 3 years ago and his turnover is increasing month by month.

[00:06:12]When you're a woman who is very busy with work, when you don't have the time to meet someone, or when you haven't had a relationship with a man, well, thanks to our service, you can experience the pleasure of being with someone.

[00:06:25]>> In actual fact, sex is strictly [music] prohibited. The rental boyfriend simply helps the woman to have a good time and to overcome her shyness around men.

[00:06:36]You can choose the rental boyfriend who fits your taste by looking at his profile. You can see what he looks like and also discover his personality.

[00:06:49][music] And the star of the show is Riku. This is Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's lively areas. And it is here that Riku waits for the client who has booked him for this afternoon. Yui reserved him online.

[00:07:04]It is not the first time that they have seen each other, but she is still very nervous.

[00:07:13]>> So, today, shall we go to Shinjuku Park and we can see the cherry blossom together?

[00:07:19]>> You seem a bit tense. It's been a little while since we last saw each other.

[00:07:24]Wait, I'll move to the other side.

[00:07:28]Riku's first mission to play the perfect boyfriend, even holding her hand. An action that is rather daring in Japan, but Yui wants to get used to contact with men. She is paid €120 for 2 hours of practice.

[00:07:45]After taking a selfie, as young lovers would do, they share an ice cream. And as the professional that he is, Riku [music] feains maximum complicity.

[00:07:55]Let me taste a little.

[00:08:00]It's 100 times better when you've licked it before. It's thanks to you that we have sun today.

[00:08:05]>> No, I often bring rain.

[00:08:07]>> Yui wants to know what it feels like to have a boyfriend because at 24 years old, she has never had one.

[00:08:13]>> I go out with RKU once a month.

[00:08:16]>> Yes, that's right.

[00:08:18]>> And today is the third time because I don't usually go out with boys.

[00:08:25]>> I hope to always have a nice time with him.

[00:08:29]As well as his role as actor, RKU also coaches his clients in seduction.

[00:08:35]Basically, when we go out together, it's true that we hold hands, but it's very important that we also talk a lot.

[00:08:42]>> I especially consult him about love.

[00:08:44]>> Yes, particularly >> I'm not really used to men. So, I ask him how I should behave, what attitude I should have if I meet someone.

[00:08:53]>> The young couple leave the park and head for some light entertainment. invented in Japan and very popular throughout Asia, karaoke. And it is only finally with this last activity that Yui relaxes a little.

[00:09:10][music] >> [music] [music] [music and singing] [music] [laughter] >> When we're together, I'm really happy and I hope to meet someone like Riku.

[00:09:49]But it's difficult to find.

[00:09:51]>> But you were telling me the other day about someone that you met at work.

[00:09:57]>> You couldn't talk to him.

[00:10:00]>> Yes, that's true.

[00:10:01]>> And so what happened after? It was the other day and there was the whole office team and we all went out together and he was there.

[00:10:14]Coincidentally, he was right next to me and I managed to talk to him a little bit.

[00:10:21]>> That's great. That means you've made great progress.

[00:10:26]>> Well done. I'm proud of you.

[00:10:31]>> It's the end of the session for RKU.

[00:10:33]Mission accomplished. Yui leaves happy and relaxed. She is ready to consider what appeared to her inconceivable just a few weeks earlier. to dare to talk to a boy that she doesn't know. Unless by then she falls in love with her therapist.

[00:10:55]In Tokyo, there are armies of young men [music] up for rent. There are those who, like Riku, play the role of public boyfriend and those who work in bars to make conversation with lonely women. The establishments even use them as their selling point.

[00:11:13]But is it a problem of time, modesty, or fear? According to a recent study, more than half of non-married [music] Japanese people do not have friends of the opposite sex.

[00:11:23]Inui is 24 years old. Like Yui, he has never had a relationship, and for him, women are a mystery.

[00:11:33]He is therefore going to try out this new [music] kind of establishment.

[00:11:40]Welcome. I'll see you through.

[00:11:44]>> Tinkerbell is what is called a cuddle cafe. A lounge where you can pay to spend a few minutes in the arms of a young woman.

[00:11:51]>> Please take off your shoes. Hi.

[00:11:55]>> Dozens of small aloves welcome the clients who are prepared to spend large sums of money for a short moment of comfort. Here you pay €60 an hour just to lie down next to a hostess. And the bill can quickly add up. You have to pay eight more euros for her to hold you in her arms for 3 minutes or €16 for her to simply rest her head on your lap.

[00:12:18]>> Hello. Nice to meet you.

[00:12:20]>> Hello.

[00:12:21]>> This is Fuki. She will be taking care of Inu here. Minutes mean money. So her timer is never far away.

[00:12:28]>> From now we have 60 minutes.

[00:12:32]Take a look at our services.

[00:12:38]>> I'm spoiled for choice.

[00:12:42]>> Head- on lap is 1,000 yen for 3 minutes.

[00:12:47]>> Okay, but I'm not sure I will be able to.

[00:12:52]>> Of course, you can. Don't be hard on yourself. Everyone can do it.

[00:12:58]The young woman eventually conquers into his shyness as he then opts for a triple package.

[00:13:05]>> What would you like to start with? Head in arms, head in lap, or the massage?

[00:13:12]>> Maybe with [music] the massage, >> of course. Turn this way.

[00:13:20]>> There is no physical contact. The massage is done over clothes.

[00:13:24]Nevertheless, Inui seems spellbound.

[00:13:30]But when it is time for him to put his head in Fuki's lap, >> place your head here.

[00:13:38]>> The young man's uneasiness returns.

[00:13:46]>> Where should I put my head?

[00:13:49]>> Wherever you want, anything is fine.

[00:13:52]Reassured by the young woman, Inui finally lets himself slip into conversation.

[00:13:59]>> When I was in high school, I started to like Hatchan, the singer.

[00:14:06]But why are girls fans of female singers? What do you actually like? Is it watching a cute girl or the atmosphere of the concert?

[00:14:17]>> I like it all. They're all really entertaining. more entertaining than a boy band.

[00:14:26]>> After one hour of cuddles, Inury seems to have developed a taste for female contact.

[00:14:33]>> How do I feel? In fact, it was very nice.

[00:14:38]Until now, I had never thought to do something like this.

[00:14:44]But contrary to what I imagined, real girls are not so bad.

[00:14:50]I really liked it more than I would have thought.

[00:14:54]>> The Cuddle Cafe not only welcomes virgins like Inu, Fuki also looks after many Japanese men who have no one to talk to.

[00:15:04]>> The people who come here are people who have problems and who can't talk about them with their colleagues, their superiors, not even their friends.

[00:15:15]or it's one of those who want to meet a girl dressed up as a harrowing character like me.

[00:15:23]>> However, it's not a question of satisfying their fantasies. The establishment is not a brothel. Before entering a room, [music] the customer is informed of the rules, so incidents are very rare.

[00:15:39]It's the end of the session. Inu is finally allowed his long- awaited cuddle. A few seconds of embrace.

[00:15:46]>> You'd prefer to stay seated for the hug.

[00:15:48]No.

[00:15:51]>> So, come on then.

[00:15:56]>> Thank you.

[00:15:58]>> Thank you very much.

[00:15:59]>> I'm very happy to have met you.

[00:16:02]>> Me, too. I had a great time. Thank you very much.

[00:16:05]>> Thank you. See you soon, I hope.

[00:16:12]If at 24 years old, Inua does not have a girlfriend, it's because he is a geek who prefers heroins from video games to real life women.

[00:16:24]With real girls, I don't know what they're thinking.

[00:16:29]They could lie while smiling sweetly.

[00:16:33]And with their friends behind my back, they could criticize me.

[00:16:38]Whereas girls in video games would never betray me.

[00:16:44]>> Because it's men who create the games.

[00:16:46]They've invented their ideal women.

[00:16:51]When he is not working in a call center, he lives in a 15 square meter apartment where he spends hours in front of a screen. And this lifestyle suits him very well.

[00:17:01]I don't really feel the urge to be in love or to get married.

[00:17:08]I can't even imagine it.

[00:17:11]>> I prefer being alone >> and spending my time playing video games or reading manga, so I don't really look to the future.

[00:17:27][music] This afternoon, Inu meets up with his friends. They also have never had girlfriends.

[00:17:38]Hey guys, how's it going?

[00:17:43]>> Their favorite neighborhood is Akihabara, a place of worship for Japan's many manga fans, [music] video game enthusiasts, and geeks. Everything on offer here seems straight out of another world. There are bars that offer trips back in time.

[00:17:57]>> Here, >> what is it?

[00:18:00]a cafe with waitresses from the early 20th century taiish era.

[00:18:06]>> Thank you.

[00:18:11]>> But even more surprising, >> we are one of the first lounges to set up here 9 years ago. We offer ear cleaning services.

[00:18:19]>> Oh, really? You clean our ears?

[00:18:21]>> Come in. Come in. You will be well received.

[00:18:30]The only girls they regularly spend time with are the characters in the game centers.

[00:18:40]Here you can play across six floors from 10:00 in the morning to [music] midnight 7 days a week.

[00:18:48]The three boys are in love with these women with supernatural powers like Samos Aran, [music] an intergalactic bounty hunter or Leninoa Hartily, the mixed beauty from the game Final Fantasy.

[00:19:03]These girls come from the imagination.

[00:19:05]There are no girls like that in real life because no one can have supernatural powers like that. If you're looking for a girl with magic powers, you're not going to find her in reality.

[00:19:15]But I want to go with supernatural powers.

[00:19:19]>> One of Inui's favorite shops is this one here, a realm of fantasy for geeks. They sell pornographic magazines, but as the women of their dreams do not exist, they are drawn and portrayed in these very erotic manga.

[00:19:37]>> The young geeks don't know where to start.

[00:19:40]>> Breasts to Infinity.

[00:19:43]>> [laughter] >> What does infinity mean?

[00:19:49]>> Unlimited breasts.

[00:19:53]>> That I see. But okay.

[00:20:00][laughter] It's insane. Really crazy.

[00:20:05]It's great. Amazing.

[00:20:17]In this district, everything has been thought of for young people to indulge their virtual erotic desires. In the building just next door, seven floors dedicated to sex and to solo pleasure.

[00:20:35]I like this.

[00:20:41]>> Here is the most popular product for men, the Tangga, a pre-lubricated masturbation tube. This sex toy has been incredibly successful. Since 2007, more than 2 million models have been sold in Japan at €5 a piece.

[00:20:57]It is hard to imagine that the demographic future of this country lies partly in the hands of this generation who turned their back on reality.

[00:21:06]One reason why young people are engrossed in video games rather than taking an interest in human relationships [music] could be because the traditional family model is no longer something to aspire to. Miyoko, her husband, and her children are a middle-class family living in this small threebed in the Tokyo suburbs.

[00:21:25]>> I'm here children. I got you something some sweets.

[00:21:31]>> Myoko is 45 years old. She became a mother later in life because she valued her career. [music] And in Japanese culture, it is the woman who must give up work to look after the children. 70% of Japanese mothers leave their jobs after their first pregnancy. Myoko was an interpreter and long hesitated to give it all up.

[00:21:52]>> It's difficult.

[00:21:55]>> I didn't really want to get married yet.

[00:22:00]>> But then I wanted children.

[00:22:05]Today, few women are willing to sacrifice [music] their careers.

[00:22:09]Traditionally, men bring in the family income. In the '90s, [music] the country experienced an economic crisis and saw the end of job security.

[00:22:20]According to Yasanuri, Miyoko's husband, who is a civil servant, this economic upheaval has had a serious impact on the psychology of young people.

[00:22:29]I think that young men are financially very worried with the crisis. Japanese society is changing and that is not encouraging them to start families.

[00:22:39]Also, times have changed. Today, not everyone has to get married.

[00:22:47]Another factor that suppresses desires to start a family, the concept of the child king in Japan, which is the death of a couple's intimacy.

[00:22:56]Everything is organized to focus on the children. Parents come after.

[00:23:03]>> Becoming a family is not very exciting.

[00:23:07]Of course, we love each other, but we've become a dad and a mom with children, not a couple.

[00:23:21]There are lots of couples who don't have sex.

[00:23:28]Maybe once or twice a year.

[00:23:31]>> Maybe none at all.

[00:23:38]>> Okay. Whose is whose?

[00:23:42]>> In fact, the rare moments that husband and wife do spend together are spent looking after [music] the children.

[00:23:48]>> Brush your teeth.

[00:23:51][music] At bedtime, Mio sleeps with one of her daughters.

[00:24:03]>> Is it like this every night, Moko?

[00:24:06]>> Yes, she likes sleeping here.

[00:24:12]>> Children are kings, princesses.

[00:24:18]>> There you go.

[00:24:23]Yunori finishes his beer [music] alone.

[00:24:26]Then he goes to bed, but not in his bedroom. He spends his nights in a bunk bed.

[00:24:33][music] [music] In Japan, the rejection of sex is taken seriously by specialists in order to halt the falling birth rate. and inspire young people to have sex. Some think they may have found the solution. Olivia is a sex counselor for couples in Japan.

[00:25:00]>> Okay, let's go. [music] >> With an architect friend, she has created an apartment to boost libido amongst couples.

[00:25:08][music] >> So, here is the bedroom with futons.

[00:25:13]>> Oh, yes, I can see the lamp.

[00:25:15]>> Yes, I left that there.

[00:25:18]At first sight, it seems like a classic home, but the originality is found in the living room.

[00:25:26]>> Here's the lid.

[00:25:28]>> With this, you can't see what it is. And this here, you remove like this.

[00:25:36]>> The architect has used the small size of Japanese homes to its full potential, creating a surprise.

[00:25:42]>> What are you doing?

[00:25:46]I'm just removing the lid. And once it's removed, we discover a bathtub.

[00:25:53]>> So, when the boyfriend comes home with this, you can create a relaxing environment, and the relationship will surely become more intimate.

[00:26:05]As well as the bathtub in the living room, Olivia and her architect are convinced they have thought of it all to create positive energy in this apartment.

[00:26:14]Here it's in direct sunlight. It's well exposed. If a woman lived here, she would automatically become more feminine and she would release more hormones. In the end, she would exude charm.

[00:26:30]>> If that wasn't enough, the specialists have another very effective tool under their belt, a pole dancing bar in the middle of the room. Using it will provoke [music] unexpected impulses.

[00:26:45]When you work on your muscles inside, you have more stamina.

[00:26:49]You get tired less quickly.

[00:26:53]You are more energetic at night and your sex life is a lot richer.

[00:27:00][music] This apartment and several others like it are currently on sale. Olivia also has an office in the city. She advises women who have never had or no longer have sex. Naoko [music] has known her for 3 years.

[00:27:18]>> Take a seat in the armchair.

[00:27:19]>> In order to brooach taboo questions, Olivia has a whole ritual in place.

[00:27:24]>> I'll take your things.

[00:27:28]>> She has learned in a way how to gain the trust of these very reserved women.

[00:27:34]>> Japanese women find it hard to talk about their sexuality.

[00:27:38]They are still far too modest even when they come here to talk.

[00:27:43]So I start with a massage using scented oils and afterwards I address the real subject >> for Naoko. These sessions seem to have worked wonders.

[00:27:56]>> I try to take your advice and I recently found a boyfriend.

[00:28:02]>> Oh, really? That's great.

[00:28:09]With all of my ex-boyfriends, I couldn't broach the subject of sex.

[00:28:14]>> But with the one I've just met, from the start, it was different. We talked about it.

[00:28:21]>> Yes. You seem much more comfortable with what you've learned. For a woman to talk about sex like you do so spontaneously and without embarrassment, it's very rare.

[00:28:34]You've made great progress. No.

[00:28:41]>> For Olivia, talking about sex is essential to a fruitful relationship.

[00:28:46]Yet, even though things are going well for Naoku, the specialist continues to give her pieces of advice to keep her relationship interesting.

[00:28:56]You know that when a woman masturbates a lot, her sexuality becomes richer.

[00:29:02]But with men, it's different. There are so many temptations and opportunities to masturbate that they end up neglecting their partner.

[00:29:12]>> Goodbye. Thank you very much.

[00:29:17]>> A little later on in the day, we meet up with Olivia.

[00:29:22]>> Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?

[00:29:27]>> Okay, let's go.

[00:29:30]regularly. The sex counselor dulges her own issues to her friend and confidant Kico. For although she is a relationship specialist, Olivia is not married.

[00:29:41]>> I've just turned 35 and it's true that for some time now people have been asking me why I'm not married and why I don't have children. And I also put pressure on myself because I would like to have a child. I really would, but I don't know where to start.

[00:29:59]No, >> first they say you should marry and yes, marriage should come first.

[00:30:04]>> I have so much maternal love. I'm so ready to be a mom that I got a cat.

[00:30:12]>> Olivia asks advice without admitting to her friend whether or not she has any suitors.

[00:30:20]It is out of the question for her to be a single mother.

[00:30:25]The declining birth rate in Japan can be explained by a decline in marriages. As here only 2% of children are born outside of marriage.

[00:30:35]Only 2% of children are born outside of marriage compared with 58% in France.

[00:30:40]Before marriages in Japan were arranged, but today it is rare. It is up to them to manage for themselves. This social pressure of marriage seems to be one of the forces contributing to the falling birth rate.

[00:30:52]After an hour of conversation, Olivia is not very reassured about her case.

[00:31:00]>> You know what worries me is not really the future of Japan, but my own future.

[00:31:09]Like Olivia, there is a whole chunk of the population who are resisting celibacy. These are generally men and women between 25 and 35 years old who are tired of loneliness and solo pleasure. They are desperate to find love and to get married, but they don't know how to.

[00:31:28]This is the case for Kamasaba, a specialized mechanic in his 30s. He lives alone in this small apartment, and he has decided to turn his back on virtual love.

[00:31:45]>> [music] >> I prefer real women to those in porn videos. In adult films, you already know the end of the story. So, I don't find it very entertaining.

[00:31:56]Whereas with a real woman that I don't know, it's more exciting. It's more entertaining.

[00:32:04]Anything could happen.

[00:32:10]These men and women who will do anything to find their soulmate are called the Konkatsu. It has become a state of mind.

[00:32:16]And of course, a whole market has been created in response. This weekend, Kamazawa is going to a Konatu camp, an outing for singletons in search of love.

[00:32:26]There he hopes to meet his feminine ideal, a girl who is happy, always positive, and cute.

[00:32:41]It is 10:30 in the morning in the northeast of Tokyo where Kamazawa meets all the participants and the organizers of this peculiar summer camp. [music] >> So today it's 14,500 yen. You don't have a lot of luggage.

[00:32:58]>> Yes, this is all I have.

[00:33:00]>> A that's good. In total, there are 15 boys and 12 girls who will pay €120 to spend 48 hours together, day and night, in the middle of the countryside, 2 hours drive from Tokyo.

[00:33:14]They are all around their 30s. They all work, but in very different worlds.

[00:33:21]You're all here. Okay, we're going to get on the bus.

[00:33:26]Follow me. Thank you.

[00:33:30]At first, everyone keeps to themselves.

[00:33:32]The shy singletons have not yet exchanged a single word between them, but the organizers are used to it.

[00:33:39]>> I asked that the ladies get on the bus first.

[00:33:43]>> It is against the rules for the women to sit [music] next to each other.

[00:33:47]Come on.

[00:33:49]It is now the turn of the boys to climb onto the bus, but greetings are rather restrained [music] and there's no flirting. For health concerns, some have kept on their masks. To break the [music] ice, the organizer asked them to introduce themselves over the microphone.

[00:34:09]So now you are each going to take turns introducing yourselves. Say your name, where you come from, and what you like.

[00:34:15]You can also add something like, for example, I'm scared of the dark. You need to accompany me if I want to go to the toilet. Or I grind my teeth in my sleep, so please close my mouth.

[00:34:26]Okay, your turn.

[00:34:31]>> My name is Aiko. I come from Saitama.

[00:34:35]>> I love children and animals.

[00:34:38]>> Nice to meet you, Ako.

[00:34:43]My name is Kamasama. I come from Kanagawa.

[00:34:47]I like surfing, body boarding, and cars.

[00:34:53]I like having fun and I hope that we'll all have a good time together.

[00:35:02]>> My hobbies are trampolining and playing the drums.

[00:35:07]>> They're supposed to show themselves in the best possible light, but extreme shyness sometimes takes over.

[00:35:14]>> I love watching sports, particularly football matches, but unfortunately I've caught a cold. I'm a bit ill, so don't come too close to me.

[00:35:28]>> Two days is not much to break down the inhibitions of the young Japanese.

[00:35:32]Kamazawa tries to build courage by explaining his strategy out loud.

[00:35:41]>> If I find a girl who is nice, that would be great. But we have to have fun.

[00:35:45]Otherwise, you won't find a cool girl.

[00:35:48]Right, guys?

[00:35:49]Because if you have a good time and joke around, that's when the pretty girls will come to us. [laughter] >> The trainee lovers are plunged back into childhood. The organizers have planned a game for them. Girls and boys mixed.

[00:36:07]There are three teams, the blues, the whites, and the reds.

[00:36:14]>> They begin with a treasure hunt.

[00:36:16]Motivated, Kamazawa leads his team. They must find all letters hidden around the school in order to make up a mystery word.

[00:36:25][laughter] >> Upon arrival, they are made to do activities that will allow them to get to know each other. It's going to be a success.

[00:36:37][music] >> And in Kamazawa's group, there is a young woman who is naturally gifted at hunting treasure. Ako There, here, here. I found it.

[00:36:48][laughter] [laughter] >> However, this young primary school teacher is much less gifted when it comes to finding a boyfriend. How long have you been single for?

[00:37:00]>> Five long years.

[00:37:03]>> No men at all?

[00:37:06]>> Not a single one.

[00:37:09]>> Why so difficult?

[00:37:12]>> Because I'm very dedicated to my work. I find it hard to do two things at once and because I can only concentrate on one thing, I haven't managed to find anyone.

[00:37:28]>> Why do you want to get married so much now?

[00:37:32]Because I would like to do things with someone.

[00:37:36]We could share moments of happiness together.

[00:37:48]After the treasure hunt, the singletons play card games or games from their childhood.

[00:38:00]>> And just like school, the rewards come in sweet form.

[00:38:05][applause] For lunch, the organizers have not booked a chef. Preparing meals together could perhaps be an opportunity for the singletons to hit it off. For Kamazawa and Akiko, it seems to be working.

[00:38:24][laughter] Let's join hands and say, "Enjoy your meal."

[00:38:29]>> Enjoy your meal.

[00:38:33]>> [laughter] >> At the table, they are seated next to each other. It's time for them to start talking.

[00:38:39]>> So, how is it going between you?

[00:38:42]>> Yes, it's good.

[00:38:44]>> We're having a good time together.

[00:38:48]>> She's a nice girl and she's pretty. And you? What do you think of him?

[00:38:53]>> He seems nice.

[00:38:55]>> Shall we exchange numbers?

[00:38:57]Okay, >> let's exchange phone numbers.

[00:39:02]>> Kamazawa is confident. He feels daring and decides to go for it.

[00:39:07]>> Wait, I'd like to add something. I love you. [cheering] You saw that? She responded, "Well, >> I love you."

[00:39:16]>> Ako is cringing.

[00:39:19]>> So, do you like him?

[00:39:21]>> I need more time.

[00:39:29]They have only known each other for a few hours, but it's a blow for Kamazawa.

[00:39:33]Will he recover?

[00:39:38][music] The next day, it is home time. Although some of the singletons have exchanged [music] numbers, they leave a little embarrassed at having forgotten that in Japan, affection is not expressed in public.

[00:39:53]Kamazawa does not see a Kiko in the weeks that follow.

[00:39:58][music] [music] We returned to the Tokyo suburbs.

[00:40:11][music] Mr. Tekashi has been married for 20 years. He too experiences [music] a lack of sex in his marriage, so he has ended up finding a mistress.

[00:40:24]He takes her out every Sunday. He likes to photograph her. A case of maintaining desire.

[00:40:30][music] >> I like the way she looks at you. Her eyes.

[00:40:36]>> Sori looks 30 years younger than Mr. Tekashi.

[00:40:41]>> That's great. Very sexy.

[00:40:47]>> Actually, the mistress is a silicon doll.

[00:40:51]Normally in Japan, the belief is that it's not good to take photos by the water. It attracts bad spirits, but oh well.

[00:41:00]>> These dolls, also known as love dolls, are a growing population in Japan. We meet Mr. Teachi at his home.

[00:41:14]>> Welcome. Come in.

[00:41:17]>> Thank you.

[00:41:20]Do you live alone here?

[00:41:22]>> No, I live with two people here.

[00:41:26]>> This is Sori >> and this is Migumi.

[00:41:33]>> For 5 years, Mr. Tekashi has shared his life with these two dolls.

[00:41:39]We listen to music. We watch films together. When it's their birthday, I get them a birthday cake.

[00:41:47]Do you buy them presents as well?

[00:41:51]>> Yes, I get them presents. Her, for example, I got her some earrings.

[00:41:56]>> Mr. Tekashi lives in the suburbs of Tokyo. His wife lives in the countryside 100 km from here. She comes from time to time and seems to accept her husband's cohabitation with these two mistresses.

[00:42:10]>> At first, she was a little scared because she found them too lifelike, but now she's used to them.

[00:42:18]Do you have sexual relations with the dolls?

[00:42:21]>> Yes, it happens. And your wife isn't jealous? I think she accepts it.

[00:42:30]>> Mr. Tekashi's two silicon mistresses were born here. This company, the employees who hold the secrets to their production prefer to remain anonymous.

[00:42:43]We have several molds to make different chest sizes and different parts of the body.

[00:42:55]>> In the [music] country of auto eroticism, these adult toys are worth €6,000 each.

[00:43:01]The market is growing rapidly. This company alone sells nearly €7,000 a year. Solo Pleasure is doing so well that it has made Japan the world's biggest producer of pornographic [music] films. With a market of over $20 billion, except that the fear of sex in Japan has also affected the porn industry, there are only around 70 actors left [music] to make 30,000 films each year.

[00:43:28]One of them is calling out for help in the international press, hoping for a resurgence. His name [music] is Kim Shimizu, alias Shimikan.

[00:43:37]>> You're going to see how many showers I take a day. Now, I'm doing something that I've been doing since I was in high school. I dry my penis every morning.

[00:43:47]It's the most important part of the body, after all. Right. And of course, without him, I wouldn't earn any money.

[00:44:06]Shimikan is the king of the Japanese porn industry and he takes good care of his work [music] tools like his hair.

[00:44:13]From the moment he wakes up, each morning revolves around a very precise ritual, a regime worthy of a top athlete.

[00:44:24]>> You need a stable and regulated life.

[00:44:26]It's important to eat well.

[00:44:31]You also need regular sleep and lots of physical exercise.

[00:44:47]>> Shimikin requires a high protein breakfast since he began his porn star career 16 years ago. With the huge lack of actors, his contracts also follow on one after the other. He can have two or three shoots a day.

[00:45:03]>> Eating the same thing every morning for more than 10 years.

[00:45:08]It's not that easy.

[00:45:15]To keep in good health, he also takes vitamins and food supplements.

[00:45:27]Sex is a combat sport, but one which is done in bed.

[00:45:37]>> Let's go.

[00:45:38]>> Perfect.

[00:45:40]>> With 7,500 X-rated movies in his show reel, Shimikin is proud of being a hero.

[00:45:45]A bit like manga hero Goku from Dragon Ball Z on this signed drawing that hangs in his hallway.

[00:45:53]>> He's been my idol since I was a child because I love heroes.

[00:46:01]>> But I'll tell you the truth, they don't exist.

[00:46:12]Shimikan [music] makes a good living, so he finds it hard to understand why there aren't more than 70 porn stars in Japan.

[00:46:20]He is proud to show us what his Cabriolet Coupe has under the hood. A marvel worth €150,000.

[00:46:37]But this morning, he goes to work in his 4x4.

[00:46:42]Shimikan has his own explanation for the disenchantment of Japanese men regarding the opposite sex. Over the last few decades, the traditional social model has evolved. Women, usually submissive to men, have emancipated themselves.

[00:46:58]>> It is not men who have become weaker.

[00:47:00]It's women who have become stronger. Now men are afraid of getting hurt. They are afraid of failure when they flirt.

[00:47:12]There is also the fact that there are more and more ways to communicate like texting for example which let us live without meeting anyone and which push people to withdraw into themselves.

[00:47:39]For the next 3 hours, Shimikan will be working hard on this rather minimalist [music] set. At the end of the shoot, some more vitamins, but hardly enough time to breathe. He is constantly rushed off his feet.

[00:47:54]>> There were two girls on the shoot with great bumps. It was really something.

[00:48:03]Now I'm going to have my shower and then I've got to go to another studio.

[00:48:13]>> On the second shoot, before going on camera, Shimikan has lunch on the go. At 36 years old, while he has already had 8,000 sexual partners, the actor knows that he is not yet ready for retirement.

[00:48:24][music] Here in Japan, there are 10,000 actresses for 4,000 films a month, and we are only 70 actors.

[00:48:41]You know, there are only 2,000 Bengal tigers left in the world. And we are like them, an endangered species.

[00:48:56]And Shimikin is only half joking. He is now on a mission [music] to reawaken the tiger that sleeps in every Japanese male.

[00:49:07]In Tokyo, [music] one Frenchman has decided to come to the population's aid. His name is [music] Julian. 7 years ago, he fell in love with the country and its eccentricities.

[00:49:21]>> This is Pikachu. It's the mascot of a well-known brand of video game. In fact, he's my totem.

[00:49:33]>> Julio has also noticed that men and women in Japan no longer understand seduction. He thinks he's found a solution to set up mixed couples. He himself has married a Japanese woman and now he organizes evenings introducing Westerners to Tokyo singles.

[00:49:50]Nothing better than a fancy dress party to liberate Japan's single population.

[00:49:57]>> I'm organizing a masquerade party. And so I've made a whole load of masks. It creates a complicity, a naughty atmosphere. So both of them will have a mask. It's like a kind of protection.

[00:50:11]And there you go.

[00:50:13]And his Cupid's recipe seems to be working very well.

[00:50:18]I've succeeded in making couples. One of them has a child and some are married.

[00:50:26]>> Come on, let's go.

[00:50:29]Tomorrow, Julian has been invited to a FrancoJapanese wedding who he set up himself. [music] But this evening, he is organizing an event in Ginsa, a chick district in the heart of Tokyo. Will it bring with it new successes?

[00:50:47]Hey girls, how are you?

[00:50:49]>> Good.

[00:50:51]>> Wait, I've sent you the list. I'll explain it to you. I'll be right back.

[00:50:56]>> Since 2013, Julian has spearheaded the first FrancoJapanese community in Tokyo.

[00:51:02]It's also the city's first international community, so it's not hard for him to find participants.

[00:51:08]How many girls, how many boys are you expecting tonight?

[00:51:13]Tonight there will be around 150 to 200 people, something like that. It should be good.

[00:51:23]>> Julian has everything planned to make his guests feel relaxed and to get the blood rushing. Artists have been booked to perform sexy shows. It's 8:00. The first guests have already arrived and there are a lot of them.

[00:51:39][music] Wearing masks seems to have had its effect.

[00:51:50]>> I become another person. [clears throat] Normally I don't feel like I can approach people, but tonight maybe I will.

[00:52:03]>> [music] >> The guests begin to let their hair down and the evening has only just begun >> tonight. To please the ladies, there will be a male stripes.

[00:52:24][music] >> [cheering] [cheering] [screaming] >> To awaken the senses of the Japanese women, Julian has turned to a western chippendale [music and singing] which breaks down the barriers of some and conquers their natural Japanese modesty.

[00:52:57]>> [cheering] >> Very quickly, French and Japanese begin exchanging numbers.

[00:53:09]>> What I'm seeing at the bar each time is couples forming.

[00:53:16]>> Some of them take it to the next level.

[00:53:21]And there's one >> [music] >> During these events, many couples get together, sometimes for life.

[00:53:47]The next morning, Julian makes his way to the Yay Yogi Hatchiman Shrine to attend the wedding of Clemore and Marico.

[00:54:02]>> Thank you for coming.

[00:54:05]>> My best wishes.

[00:54:08]>> Thank you for coming, Julian.

[00:54:14]Julian's very warm welcome might be down to the fact that the two lovers met each other at one of his events. It was a year and a half ago and a baby was born from this union.

[00:54:34]>> It's not really a kissing culture.

[00:54:38]>> She takes it better than Okay.

[00:54:41]>> Although she is in the country where modesty reigns today, Clemon's mother is all about kisses.

[00:54:49][laughter] >> Look toward me.

[00:54:56]>> So Julian is boosting marriage in Japan.

[00:55:00]And that's a lot of pressure.

[00:55:02]>> Well, it's mostly thanks to him that we met each other.

[00:55:15]>> [music] >> While more and more Japanese people prefer western style weddings, Clemore and Maro have opted for a traditional Shinto ceremony in [music] kimonos.

[00:55:26]The Shinto priest purifies the bride and groom. Then he invites them to taste the sacred sake. As is [music] custom, they share three cups which they must take turns drinking.

[00:55:46]Then Clemore and Maro exchange vows.

[00:55:50]Their families [music] are moved and Julian is [clears throat] particularly touched. It was him who orchestrated this union.

[00:56:06]This is probably the face of future Japan with more and more mixed marriages. This could be what the future looks like. And so lots more little mixed babies as well.

[00:56:20][crying] >> Sarah.

[00:56:24]>> And if mixed marriages [music] are not enough to repopulate the country, the Japanese people can always rely on the gods. [bell] [music] Each year, the town of Kawasaki in the Tokyo suburbs celebrates Kanamara Matsuri, the fertility festival.

[00:56:44][cheering] Since the 17th century, the town's residents gather on the first Sunday of April [music] to parade giant penises in the streets.

[00:56:56]Costumes, candy in the shape of penises or valva, anything goes when honoring the local gods and asking them for a fruitful sex life or a baby. A rather bizarre and surprising initiative to combat the demographic decline of Japan.

[00:57:12][music]