Who are these people?

Picture borrowed from www.bryanboy.com

Have you ever heard of Japans ”Herbivore" men? I haven’t heard of them until a Japanese girl in my Intercultural communication class mention Herbivorous men on her presentation last week. Who are these people? What characteristics do they have? The author and pop culture columnist Maki Fukasawa describe in his article Japans "Herbivore men" less interested in sex and money that Herbivore men is a young generation of male people, most of them in the age of 20-30. They have a big interest in fashion and personal appearance. They are not likely to work and spend much time alone. He mentions that the most important thing to remember about Herbivorous men is that they believe in friendship without sex and that they are not looking for a girlfriend. In the article Japans "Herbivore" men shun corporate life, sex the author Yumi Otagaki writes that Herbivorous men identify themselves as grass-eating men who’s not interested in flesh. The author also describes the Herbivorous men mindset as a reaction to the end of the Japans late 1980s "bubble economy". Their experiences through tough times have given Herbivorous men a different attitude about consumption. All though they have a big interesting in fashion and shopping they don’t buy thing to show off, and of course one reason of that is that they can’t afford it. I found this topic very difficult to do a research on because I didn’t wanted to point out guys on the streets, asking them if they consider themselves as "Herbivorous" men. Instead I found it interesting to hear girl’s opinions about these guys. I talked to two Japanese students here on Kansai Gaidai University that I haven’t met before. Both girls I talked to were very familiar with "Herbivorous" men. They didn’t mention many positive thing about these guys. The first girl I talked to Yumiko, 19 years old described "Herbivorous" men as lazy guys who don't want to work. They love to stay close to their house, spending time with close friends or with their mother. They have a lot of female friends but they are not looking for a relationship. Miki 23 years old described "Herbivorous" men as guys who like to do women’s work, they like cooking, cleaning, they like to spend time with their mother and they are not interested in dating girls. She mention "Otomen" a Japanese romantic comedy manga which have become very popular the last two years in Japan. The TV drama is about Asuka Masamune who is the coolest guy on school, but he also have a secret, he loves sweets, cute things, cooking and sewing. Miki says that she thinks the popularity of the TV drama have increased the acceptance of "Herbivore" men. I ask her if she would like to be in a relationship with a "Herbivorous" men and she laugh, no, definitive not but if my boyfriend could get some of their positive characteristics like doing household work I would be very glad. I am still wondering, who are these people, how can we identify them and how do we research a sensitive topic like this? I found an interesting video with the author and pop culture columnist Maki Fukasawa who discuss "Herbivorous" men.