Danshi means "young man" in Japanese and its modern context is used to describe nontraditional masculine men. [1] The most common version of it is "Soushokukei danshi" which was coined in 2006 by Maki Fukasawa and translates to "herbivore man". [2] It has gained traction in Japan to describe men who do not pursue women and have little interest in sex and a smaller desire to work corporate salary jobs. [3] [4] They are also more likely to shop in a feminine manner rather than a masculine one. [4] The term has been used to describe "feminine men". [4] This term has led to many other similar terms describing masculinity in Japan. [5] These terms often include diet-related terminology to denote them from one another. One such term is kurīmu danshi which translates to "creamy men" and are characterized by their care for women's feelings and have a soft but masculine personality. [5]
A danshi is a young man who embraces nontraditional masculinity in Japan. [3] Traditional masculinity in Japan involves being a breadwinner for the family and being aggressive when seducing women. [4] In post-war Japan, it replaced the soldier as the biggest form of male masculinity. [2] This fashion of masculinity has been fading among 20-34-year-old men as 60% of them identified as a "Soushokukei danshi". [4] One theory of the origin of the myriad of danshi is societal pressures put on men to work a salary job and provide for the family. [3] They have decided to push back against this as it does not match their desires.
All of these categories of Danshi correspond to a different kind of masculinity most of which are nontraditional. For instance, they may adopt a more feminine shopping behavior such as fashion and beauty products and unlike traditional masculinity, they enjoy cooking and eating sweets. [4] [2] These two activities are seen as feminine in Japanese society. [5] The older generation deems all kinds of danshi but the carnivorous as effeminate and emasculated. [7]
Danshi take different approaches to relationships than those who exhibit traditional masculinity. For instance, they may have a sexless marriage as 45% of married couples in Japan are sexless. [3] Most of these couples are content with this and their relationship remains strong. These relationships are monogamous and Soushokukei Danshi assumes a more passive role. [8] This passive role comes from wanting an equal relationship with women, a lack of self-confidence, and a preference for a close platonic relationship with women. [2] [8] Gyoshoku danshi wait for women to give them attention and love by becoming friends first. [7] Kurimu Danshi care for women's feelings and get to know and form relationships this way. [7] Nikushoku danshi are aggressive in seducing women and do not wait around or try to get them to know them as well initially. [5]