… touched for the very first time. Virginity — some lose it, others prefer to hold on to their ha’penny.
‘Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.’
Robert Herrick (1591-1674), To the Virgins, Make Much of Time
Cherry Boys
About a quarter of Japanese men aged 30 to 34 are virgins, according to a recent study by the National Institute of Population and Social Security. However, the figure could be even higher as Japan’s Cherry Boy Association has reported that many men are too shy or ashamed to reveal their true status, with 11 per cent giving an invalid answer. The 517 members, many of whom hope to meet women and ‘graduate’ from the club, gather to discuss their virginity and also to hold parties.