Japanese Women Turn to Mr Virtual As Online “Love Games” Take Over Normal Dating

Want to meet Mr Right but don’t want to deal with the ordeal of dating and having to chat to an actual man? No problem! Why not try the latest dating phenomenon that is sweeping Japan?

Reuters reports that women in Japan are going crazy for a new series of role-playing “love games” that allow women to safely spend time with their choice of dream man without having to actually deal with a live person.

It sounds a bit counter-intuitive, y’know, dating a man that doesn’t actually exist in real life, but according to the female population, these love apps offer women a major boost in confidence and help them to feel attractive and wanted.

“In the game, you’re the lone woman, and the attention of all the guys is on you,” said one woman who plays “love games” on a regular basis.

In the games, the woman becomes a heroine and choses an ideal boyfriend from several characters who would give Prince Charming a run for his money. The woman’s character then develops a relationship-of-sorts with the male character through the choices they make in the storyline.

Japanese women are spending hundreds of Yen on these games

The games, which can be played on smart phones, have become increasingly popular with women in their 30s says Kana Shimada, an author who writes about modern Japanese women and their relationships.

“It may be virtual, but if it’s ‘a boyfriend from a game,’ then you can enjoy it whenever you want,” said Shimada.

According to Shimada, women in their 30s feel that they don’t have the time or the energy for a real relationship due to their hectic social lives and demanding work schedules. So they turn to apps in order to get the same buzz that they’d feel if they were seeing someone new in real life.

“The games that make you feel the ups and downs of a real relationship have all the elements to get women hooked,” added Shimada.

The love games come in several different episodes and cost around 500 Japanese Yen (or €5) each. Would you rather have a virtual boyfriend than a real one? It sounds a bit weird, but we can see the attraction (try find a virtual man that leaves the seat up. We’re just saying…)