Introduction and objectives: The purpose of this study is threefold: firstly to understand the reality of adolescent sexual life; secondly to analyze the factors that accelerate or decelerate sexual behaviors of Japanese adolescents; lastly, through these findings to discuss what information the adolescents lack and need, such as those on contraceptives, STI, reproductive health and gender issues. Goals of presentation: 1) To provide an overview of changes in sexual behaviors of Japanese adolescents between 1999 and 2005 concerning the rates of experience of kissing and sexual intercourse. 2) To examine the effect and issues in Japanese sexuality education in terms of resources on sexual information and knowledge on reproductive health. Method: A nationwide questionnaire survey conducted every six years since 1974. Results: (1) The rates of experience of kissing and sexual intercourse among senior high school and university students have risen since the 1980’s for both boys and girls. Because of the rapid pace of increase in the girls’ rate of experiencing sexual intercourse which overrides that of the boys, gender difference on sexual intercourse rates has disappeared in 2005. (2) It was found that in general, the senior high school students relied on mass media and intimate human relations (e.g. friends) concerning sexual information, although sexuality education at schools was effective to a certain extent in providing knowledge on contraceptives. As for affinity to mass media, gender difference still exists, that is, while boys access more to pornography, girls access more to “manga” comics and magazines for teenage girls. Conclusion: While Japanese adolescents have become more sexually active, their knowledge on reproductive health is unestablished. We should promote an active and open discussion on sexuality education at schools and elsewhere, as well as on utilization of mass media in connection to media literacy.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: The Japanese Association For Sex Education
Sydney Australia, April 2007
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