Grass Fed 1: An Introduction to Herbivore Men

First posted on MGTOW Red Pill Forum Feb 16 2014
Reposted at Going Your Own Way Forum Feb 20 2014

Let me begin by saying that I am not an expert whatsoever about Herbivore Culture. That said, I doubt there is anyone even in Japan who can give you an answer that can accurately portray Herbivore culture that is not biased by the feminine narrative. Also, although I did link some articles, this isn't an academic work or research, rather an opinion piece hence why I decided to put this in Anecdotal section. 

That’s What She Said

The term Soushoku-kei Danshi a.k.a. “Herbivore Boys” is coined by Maki Fukusawa in 2007 and became a buzzword by 2009/2010. Fukusawa is a woman and her observations will obviously be skewed by the feminine perspective. Soon, another woman by the name of Megumi Ushikubo, the president of the market firm Infinity, authored “The Herbivores Ladylike Men are Changing Japan” using pseudo-science to come up with her conclusions.

To be fair, a man named Masahiro Morioka, a professor from Osaka Prefecture University, made the term popular in his book "Love Lessons for the Herbivore Boys". The fact remains that the ones that made a fuss about this are the women, that is.

Herbivore men don’t talk about being Herbivore with other men; we just are and the women didn't like it.

The Japanese Beta Male 

What most Japanese traditional men are, are workaholic corporate salary-men. These men often work long hours and give all of their income to their wives – every last Yen. The wives in turn would give the husband allowances and keep the rest. Yes, this is a thing in Japan. (JapanTalk, 2012)

What these men truly are, are Japanese Beta Males being bitch-slapped by their wives. Anyone with half a brain could see that this is not a life and is the primary motivating factor behind the Herbivore Culture as well as the reason it has gained so much ground in Japan. Hence, the Herbivore Men is a counterculture to Nikushoku Danshi or Carnivore Men which is the traditional male role, specifically on matters of love, employment and consumption.  

Lesser known but just as true is that Herbivore Culture had existed long before the term was coined. It started back in the early 90’s as a reaction towards Japan economic downturn. As Japan’s economy further descends, it accelerated the growth of Herbivore Culture. The Herbivore men are typically 35 years of age or younger and this demographic corresponds to the period of Japan’s economic crisis; it’s a culture 20 years in the making, there just wasn't a name for it back then. 

The Herbivore Men is a culture that rejects traditional Japanese way of life in favour of individual happiness instead. 

Media Hype

What the media tend to report about Herbivore Men (that is commonly written by women) is that they are

• Afraid of women and commitment – some writers went as far as to state that Herbivore men are afraid to hurt and get hurt emotionally. 
• Frugal and non-ambitious – Herbivore men only spend money for themselves and aren't looking to advance themselves in society. 
• Effeminate, Fashion and Beauty Conscious – the media loves to focus on these metrosexual men who spend their money on beauty products and fashion. 
• Abstaining from sex – either being celibate or indifferent to sex. 

All I can do when I read articles that writes this is to facepalm myself. While the above criteria are true, it is very much misleading. Herbivore men are not identified by all 4 criteria; there are some Herbivore men that fit some of the criterion but no Herbivore man fit them. To think that Herbivore Men spend money on their hair, make up, fashion while at the same time saying that they are frugal when clearly beauty and fashion are luxury expenses, is ludicrous. 

The 70% of the men that are within the Herbivore demographic (20 – 35 y/o) whom identify themselves as Herbivore, include (but not limited to) NEETs (Not Employed, in Education or Training), and Freeters (men who are not employed or are not fully employed) which amounts to a sum of 2.5 million people who are further divided into different sub-cultures which consist of manga, video games, maid cafes and good-ole Japanese Adult Video (porn to you). 

NEETs, Freeters are included in the wider spectrum of other Herbivore men who do have fulltime employment and are doing well. NEETs and Freeters tend to be frugal and pretty much into the Otaku (Nerd) culture while at the same time being Soushoku-kei Danshi (Herbivore). And then there are the effeminate Herbivore Men who created this new trend of men who are into grooming and fashion and this is the Herbivore men that the media identifies readily and hyped. 

Another thing that the media likes to hype is the bruised pride and dignity of the Herbivore Men. Since the traditionally, women do not refuse the advances of Japanese man, the fact that modern Japanese women can and do reject Herbivore men at the point where it hurts their pride so badly that they simply cower, I find that also ludicrous especially when these findings were presented by Oricon (music statistic company of all things) and other companies using pseudo-science. 

Because the truth is, there are Herbivore Men who do date women; but many Herbivore men don't care. And although there are Herbivore men who are indeed shy and passive, it certainly doesn't explain why other Herbivore Men are celibate, asexual and/or indifferent. 

Masahiro Moriaka himself only ascribe the Herbivore Men label to the effeminate young Japanese men but he also stated that he believed the herbivorization of Japanese men began after the Second World War as Japan entered a time of military peace (Morioka, M 2013). However, Maki Fukusawa who first coined the term ascribe the term to all Japanese men who holds the same attitude towards women, giving the term a broader and more accurate definition in this commentators opinion.

The important thing to note is that, the Herbivore culture is more inclusive and diverse than what the media portrays. 

Japanese Men are Going Their Own Way

If you could ask every Herbivore Man, one common element that they all share is their attitude towards women, hence consequently marriage and relationships. The Carnivore Man is the symbol of traditional masculine role, i.e. a Japanese man is expected to support his wife and family without complaint even though he feels discontent and unhappy. The Carnivore Man’s social standing is defined by him having wealth and family, even if in pursuit of this makes him miserable. 

It also doesn't help that the main criticism that all the articles regarding Herbivore Man in Japan and around the world, come from the grievances of women who – if you read the subtext carefully – want their man to pamper them. The women want their man in their traditional roles as salary men who slaves at work all day and gives all his money to his wife; a life that Herbivore Men refuse to participate. 

References:

Moriaka, M 2013, Phenomenological Study of Herbivore Men, The Review of Life Studies, vol 4, Septermber 2013

Good reads on Herbivore Men
Japan Counterculture: The Soushoku Danshi – Shave Magazine

Japan’s Herbivore Men – Reuters

Who are Japan’s Grass-Eaters –  Discover Japan

Read with caution

The Herbivore’s Dilemma – Slate Magazine

Blurring the Boundaries – Japan Times