An article in the Japan Times, 10th October 2007, reports on a survey carried out by the Japanese Association for Sex Education.

The survey shows that since the 1990s, girls have become more sexually active due to the social influences of mobile phones and the Internet.

Since 1974, the association has surveyed 5,000 junior high, high school and university students every six years.

The figures show that the rate of sexual experience for male university students declined from 1999 to 2005, but that for female university and high school students increased

A lecturer at Hitotsubashi University said that the pattern of active boys and passive girls remained unchanged, but that boys were likely to get biased information from adult videos and other sources.

In a survey of 5,000 high school students, 13% of girls and 7% of boys were found to be infected with asymptomatic Chlamydia. It was suggested that more local health clinics be provided for youth-friendly services.

From 1995, abortion rates among girls aged 15 to 19 rose from 6.2 per 1,000 to 13 per 1,000 in 2001.

The rate declined to 9.6 in 2005.

According to Dr. Kunio Kitamura, Director, Japan Family Planning Association Clinic, a survey of 800 obstetric and gynecological facilities across the country showed that the abortion rate had dropped for women under 20.

This was attributed to availability of emergency contraception, the “morning-after” pill and the effects of sex education.