The term “sexless marriage†was first coined in Japan during the early 90’s, when therapists encountered a huge surge in the number of women admitting dissatisfaction with their love lives. And things obviously haven’t improved since then. A 2004 sex survey found that the average number of sexual encounters in 41 countries was 103 per year, with Japan coming last, mustering a measly 46.
But thankfully help is at hand (so to speak). Dr Kim Myong-gan, a Tokyo based sexologist, has introduced some radical new therapy to help his patients. Many of whom he claims are stuck in marriages that “have been sexless for 5, 10, or even 15 years.â€
The ‘prescription’ for these women is a date with a member of the doctor’s ‘sex volunteer corps’. A team that boasts 40 members, all specially chosen for their looks, humour, and ability to listen.
These dates are said to consist of a nice meal and a few drinks, giving the patient some time to relax and explain her unfortunate marital situation. Then it’s discreetly off to a hotel for the necessary treatment.
Dr Kim claims that, “The problem among many Japanese men is that fairly soon after they get married, they begin to see their wives as their mothers, there to cook and clean for them. That makes it very hard to find them sexually attractive again.” Now how much truth there is in this is debatable, but the doctor’s somewhat unorthodox approach is obviously paying dividends. Every year around 200 women (mostly in their 40’s) are said to visit his clinic, with an initial two-hour interview costing 20,000 yen (100 pound).
After this, the women are given a book containing pictures and personal details of every sex corps member. All of whom Dr Kim says are not gigolos. He also denies earning money from anything that happens outside his clinic walls.
