Original subtitles

AMANPOUR: Tokyo.

Most know it's a place

where men's desires are fully catered to

and well documented.

I want to know more about how the women here live and love.

Ladies, let's talk about sex.

-Yeah. -[ Laughter ]

AMANPOUR: Many are choosing to remain single,

and the birthrate is falling.

[ Laughter ]

In a city of contradictions,

where do the women find their satisfaction?

I'm really curious to understand what makes Tokyo tick,

but something tells me

this city doesn't give up its secrets easily.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

Thank you for waiting. It's just about to start now.

[ Snaps fingers ]

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

It feels good.

I don't want anyone to touch me but you.

Promise me, please touch me a lot.

[ Breathing heavily, groaning ]

Yura!

[ Grunting, squealing ]

AMANPOUR: Japan has a legendary love

of modern-day graphic material

that smacks of a strong sexual appetite...

Coming!

AMANPOUR: ...and hopefully plenty of satisfaction.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

Personally, I don't know much about manga comics,

cosplay, anime,

or any of the other things I'm told are big in Tokyo.

So I've reached out to someone who can give me a crash course

in popular culture.

-You're a university professor. -CHOO: Yes.

AMANPOUR: You teach about sex. You teach about culture.

I teach Japanese popular culture a lot in my classes.

I teach on anime. I teach on manga.

AMANPOUR: Professor Kukhee Choo teaches cultural studies

at Sophia University in Tokyo.

Before I dip into modern-day Tokyo sexual tendencies,

I want to go back.

Okay. We have to stand back for this.

Way back -- to the 17th century and erotic art known as shunga.

AMANPOUR: Almost need a drumroll.

These works are still somewhat taboo,

and they're rarely exhibited.

This is a very extravagant scroll from 1675.

That is truly beautiful.

AMANPOUR: But Kukhee has managed to get us a private look

at the pieces in Tokyo's Shimizu gallery.

-Crikey. Look at that. -[ Laughs ]

This was a common gift for daughters for the samurai class

-on their wedding night. -To show them...

-It's a sex educational manual. -Really?

-So let's go through the story. -Yes.

They're lying together on their wedding night.

Oh, she's kind of looking bored.

-[ Laughs ] -She's reading.

And he's like, "Okay."

And would it be on public display?

CHOO: Shunga was a very popular culture in Japan,

and people of various classes would go and purchase it

for entertainment purposes.

It was humorous. It induced giggles.

So you can see how a couple could look at it together

while enjoying.

Could I just say that this looks really painful.

I mean, do Japanese men look like that?

[ Speaking Japanese ]

He's not aware of the men's anatomy during this period.

AMANPOUR: [ Laughs ] During this period.

-MAN: [ Speaking Japanese ] -Ah. So there are two males.

And he's doing it to himself.

-No. She's grabbing his -- -Oh, my God. I'm so useless.

I can't find whose hands are what.

And excuse me. What's happening here?

-CHOO: These are Buddhist nuns. -AMANPOUR: What?

Because they could not have heterosexual relationships,

they're masturbating, or pleasing themselves.

-Dildos. -That's a foot dildo.

Okay. That's interesting.

I mean, it's like... with a sling.

CHOO: [ Laughs ]

AMANPOUR: I'm quite shocked. It's seriously explicit.

I mean, all these positions.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

Do you think people actually did that at home?

CHOO: [ Laughing ] They probably did.

According to historians, the Edo period,

from the 17th century to the 19th century,

was known for its sexual liberation.

And then what happened?

In the mid-19th century, Japan opened its market

and its country to the Western world.

The new era was called Meiji period,

and they actually banned this culture,

deeming it inappropriate according to Western standards.

-Mm. -And let's not forget --

The mid-19th century was the Victorian era.

They thought maybe the Americans

or Brits or whatever would come here and get shocked.

And they were indeed shocked, so this suddenly disappeared.

If you actually had these shungas,

they would be confiscated by the government.

AMANPOUR: She looks quite happy, this one.

CHOO: That's his wife.

Even if she weren't, she had to fake it.

What were marriages like in that era?

During the Edo period, men could have multiple wives,

many mistresses.

And how did the wives take that?

They were taught jealousy was not a good virtue.

-So they had to bite the bullet? -Yes.

-As usual. -As usual. [ Laughs ]

There was more sexual liberation,

so I would assume that probably people were a little happier.

-Women or men? -Both.

So the wives could do this stuff, too?

-Probably secretly. -Really?

-Who do we have here, then? -Just a regular lady.

Probably she's buying some kind of hair ornament

from this merchant who came to visit her.

Is this the milkman coming

and having an affair with the housewife?

-[ Speaking Japanese ] -Exactly.

-Exactly. -[ Laughs ]

God will only know what that weird sexual torture device is.

CHOO: Shoes. Wooden heels.

[ Laughs ]

They got that one wrong.

[ Music slows, stops ]

In public, my husband and I don't do much kissing,

holding hands or putting an arm around the shoulder.

Almost never happens.

On very rare occasions, we hold hands.

But I don't like holding hands very much.

I kiss my husband only when we have sex.

Do I like it?

Mm. [ Laughs ]

Not very much. In fact, I may not be very good at it.

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

AMANPOUR: On Love Hotel Hill,

intimacy is a business where amorous couples seek respite

from the stresses and loneliness of life.

Rooms can be paid for by the hour,

and so can lovers.

[ Music continues ]

My occupation is fuzoku-jyo, a hotel health worker.

[ Speaking Japanese ]

I see about four customers per day.

MAN: [ Speaking Japanese ]

Once a call comes, I go to the designated hotels.

Many things motivated me to start this job.

As my husband is a strong, jealous type,

I thought maybe this job could relieve stress

by enjoying other men.

MAN: [ Laughs ]

-[ Speaking Japanese ] -[ Telephone ringing ]

The shop set up a fabricated company for an alibi.

My husband thinks I work as an OL (office lady).

[ Music continues ]

My regulars are working in corporate jobs,

married but sexless.

They don't get sexual intimacy at home,

so they probably come to me

to release sexual tension from time to time.

Since I'm a married woman myself,

married customers request me.

I think they look for similar elements as their wives.

Someone they can talk to.

With a married woman, who understands the situation,

a secret can be shared.

For those who claim they fall in love with me

I would pretend to be in love with them,

so they would come see me more.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

WOMAN: I've never heard my father say "I love you"

to my mother.

I think it would be really weird for me to hear that in Japanese.

It sounds really, really corny.

Yeah. That's the thing. Just linguistically, it's--

It just sounds corny.

Oh, yeah. In English. Yeah. He always say --

Yeah, we say those sorts of things.

WOMAN: "I love you" is "ashier" in Japanese.

But it means more if you say "arigato,"

which means "thank you."

So I think a lot of Japanese people say "thank you"

instead of "I love you."

I don't use "I love you."

I use "I like you" and "I like you so much."

MAYA: In the public, we don't say much.

JESSE: We don't hold hands.

At first, I didn't really kiss.

MAYA: We kiss when he go work.

-You know. -When?

Well, when you leave.

-She just -- -[ Speaking Japanese ]

But that's not kissing, though.

Oh, yeah. That -- Not really...

Nobody wants to kiss me.

-[ Laughs ] -No.

JESSE: Once in a while we do.

MAYA: But not in the public.

That would be the big rumor --

"Maya-san really kissing her husband."

It's that kind of situation, you know?

Rumors can kill you.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

[ Speaking Japanese ]

Shining!

Yeah!

Ready!

Set, go!

Cheers!

Chug it!

Everybody chug it!

Chug it!

Here we go!

At last!

In the end!

Awesome!

Prince!

A comment!

Let's!

Ask!

Thank you for today.

AMANPOUR: It's a Japanese tradition

that goes back centuries,

and it's an accepted way of life

that men can be pampered and pleasured

by any number of services for a price.

The modern salaryman can choose everything

from traditional geishas to women dressed as schoolgirls

and hostess bars, guaranteeing very attentive company.

My eyes are beautiful.

AMANPOUR: But where does a modern salarywoman go

to get her boxes ticked?

[ Music continues ]

In the post-bubble economy, they work hard and play hard

but may have little time or inclination

for relationships.

Now there are host clubs to cater to female customers

who may be searching for the boyfriend experience.

This is a pretty amazing place.

Just explain to us where we are.

We are at Host Club Ai. Uh, means "love."

AMANPOUR: As ever, Professor Kukhee Choo is my wingwoman.

Is that what people come here for?

Some people might, but people are aware

that they're buying that two hours of affection.

-AMANPOUR: And attention. -CHOO: Attention.

I think that this occupies a particular space in Japan

where women can come and destress

or show their true feelings

or act like they're the queen of the day,

and it makes them feel good.

ICHI: Hello. Hello.

Excuse me, welcome.

Hi. What's your name?

-What's your name? -Ichi.

Ichi.

What are you gonna do for us?

Well, this is a Japanese host club

that provides private hospitality.

Let me see some hospitality.

Okay, what would you like to drink?

Soju on the rocks with ice.

-Okay. -AMANPOUR: Thank you, Ichi.

So is there a hierarchy? Is there a rank?

Yes, it depends on the sales of that month.

It does not depend on how many customers the host gets.

Even if a host has only one customer

but that customer spends ten million yen

and the other hosts didn't make those same sales,

that host would be number one for the next month.

CHOO: Some people might have one customer,

but if that customer spends $100,000 U.S., yes, a month.

A hundred thousand U.S. dollars?

So it'd be 10 million yen a month.

Are you serious? Whoa.

That host would actually be the number one that month.

AMANPOUR: Have you been number one?

Yes, I have.

What do women want when they come here?

They come here to experience something they can't

in their ordinary life.

They talk about things

they can't talk to their husband,

boyfriend or friends about.

Like what?

Complaining about their husbands.

CHOO: Complaints about their husbands.

Yes, also about their boyfriends.

CHOO: Complaints about their boyfriends.

Talking about being sexless.

CHOO: Talking about being sexless.

Sexless. Really?

Well, it's easy for Japanese to become sexless

compared to foreigners.

It's extremely lacking in body touch.

CHOO: Oh, because there's not that much skinship here.

-Skinship? -They call it skinship here.

-What is that? -Body touch. Like, affection.

Like this. They don't do this with others.

Oh. Hold hands. Yeah.

I grab their waist and pull them closer to me.

And then they grab them by their waist

and pull them closer to...

And I do a "princess lift."

Oh, and they lift them up like they're a --

They're called a princess lift.

-Really? -Yes.

And then where does that lead?

Taxi. Bye-bye.

[ Laughter ]

So they come sexless and they leave sexless.

Some of them come for sex.

But if they have sex, they might be satisfied and not come back.

AMANPOUR: So it's true what I heard --

The Japanese don't really kiss or hug.

Did you have physical contact with your parents?

No, I did not.

-No. -No.

I remember my father and mother

carried me piggyback,

since I was a little spoiled.

But we didn't hug or kiss.

How does the lack of intimacy affect you?

It was embarrassing to be with a woman.

Really?

Well, when I was younger.

If you had hugs and kisses from your mother

when you were a child,

you'd be more expressive as an adult.

So this is good for you as well, not just for the women, right?

I do body touch.

And yourself?

-I get healed too. -You get healed too.

So that's why he likes this work.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

I like a man who is independent, mentally and financially.

And somebody who is well informed about something.

I like a geek.

[ Music continues ]

My boyfriend at that time

only occasionally became erect in the morning.

He asked me to get on top of him. There was no foreplay.

I put on lube and got on top of him,

then he picked up his cell phone and started watching a porno.

I didn't feel good, so I got off and gave him a hand job.

He kept watching the porno.

And he was satisfied and that was it.

I tried to entice him by wearing sexy lingerie

and perfume with pheromones,

but he would just say, "What are you doing? or "You are weird."

And so we became sexless

and I lost confidence as a woman.

AMANPOUR: Sexless marriages seem to be an accepted reality here.

But what about single women in Japan?

Is the grass any greener for them?

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

I'm heading into the city's gay district,

where they have a concentration of microbars.

[ Music continues ]

And those differentiate even further

by the particular itch they try to scratch.

Momo isn't gay,

but in a place where female sexuality is often hidden,

her favorite spot serves both drinks and a purpose.

AMANPOUR: Momo, you don't come here to find love or sex.

MOMO: Not here. It's a gay bar, though.

-Right. -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-Are you gay? -I am straight.

So why are you coming in here?

Uh...

[ Laughter ]

-Ding! -Ding!

-MAN: That's special. -MOMO: Yeah.

Ding, ding!

[ Laughter ]

Sense of humor is a must.

I love it.

When I go to, like, a normal bar,

it's like, um, conversation is not stimulating.

-AMANPOUR: It's not stimulating? -No.

Gay persons, they know about for man side, woman side.

Love advice is best.

And the conversation is professional.

It's, like, sexually open.

I'm sexually open, so that's why I want to talk.

So, do you give her advice sometimes?

Yeah, sometimes.

-What do you discuss? -Blow jobs.

Oh, really? Oh. Okay.

Okay. I guess this is a good place to learn that.

Sorry. It's too much for you, maybe?

-[ Laughs ] -No, no. Not at all.

When I was young, I opened up the door,

and I saw my parents' sex, unfortunately.

-You did? -Yeah. I was 5 years old.

I didn't know what sex is, but I imitate it.

I start for masturbating stuff.

Uh-huh.

[ Laughter ]

So from spying on your --

Well, stumbling in on your parents

to masturbating to being in a gay club.

No! No, no, no, no.

AMANPOUR: So what is it like being a girl here?

What pressures are you under?

Most Asian mom is like, "Do this. Do like that."

-Tiger mom. -Yeah.

My mom always wanted me to find a person who has money,

a rich person to get married.

-You didn't want to do that? -No.

So what did they let you do and not let you do?

Well, like, no dating.

So I was always curious and curious

and curious about dating.

Just one time I try and lost virginity.

How old were you?

-Like 16. -And was that young?

That time is, like, common.

And did you love this person?

Not really. I just wanted to have an experience.

-Was it a good experience? -Ah.

Well, I walk like a penguin.

[ Both laugh ]

That was hard.

And then my mom find out.

-And so were you punished? -Yeah.

She punished me a lot.

So you were very repressed at home?

Yeah. That influenced me to, like, not be myself.

I cannot love myself

and I cannot, like, be taking care of myself.

And then it's, like, lonely,

and I try to find one-night stand.

I think I did a lot.

Lots of one-night stands.

-To find some freedom? -Yeah. Yeah.

How about emotional happiness

when it comes to -- I don't know --

being with a partner, finding the right partner?

I would love to have my own happy family.

If I find the right person,

I will not go to, like, having sex with so many people,

and I think I will settle down.

You clearly know everything you need to know.

If I find something, like, interesting, I jump on.

-Yeah. -Like, I'm a Pegasus.

-You were a penguin once. -I used to be a penguin, yeah.

All right. On that note, Momo...

-Cheers again. -I can't take any more of this.

[ Laughs ]

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

AMANPOUR: In a place with fairly obvious intimacy issues,

it isn't surprising that many turn to other outlets

for stimulation, entertainment, and even comfort.

CHOO: This place called Ikebukuro

is known for the female consumers of manga,

anime, and game culture.

AMANPOUR: The Otome Road, or Maiden Road,

is a nickname for this area,

which caters to female manga fans.

-"Manga" means "comic book." -CHOO: Yeah.

Tezuka Osamu is the godfather of manga and anime in Japan,

but the girls' genre branches out from that

during the late '60s and '70s.

AMANPOUR: Manga is Professor Kukhee Choo's area of expertise.

It's a major part of everyday life here in Japan.

The main genre which is read by women and girls

is called shojo.

It features romances

where female characters play stereotypical roles.

The dominant genre the female consumers consume in this area

is what they call "boys' love" genre.

Okay. What is it?

A genre that actually features boys

in a homoerotic relationship.

And is that what they're looking at here?

CHOO: They are.

All the characters in this title are all beautiful boys.

-Those are boys with long hair? -Those are all boys.

That's what they call the pretty boys.

It's not gay. It's for heterosexual women.

Yes, predominantly for heterosexual women.

AMANPOUR: Boys' love, or yaoi, is a further subgenre of manga,

which some see as a rebellion

against the unattainable boy-meets-girl romance

of the more mainstream offerings.

So what is fujoshi?

"Fujoshi" means "rotten girl." Literally.

It started out as probably a derogatory term.

But the female consumers, the girls and the women,

reclaimed that, and it's empowering for them now.

AMANPOUR: They're the ones who consume this?

-In this Ikebukuro area. -So we're full of fujoshi here?

We are full of fujoshi, yes.

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

Hijirin, she really likes the happy story.

They meet, fall in love and are happy.

I like the story where they break up

but still like each other,

then they get back together.

Because I'm a woman, I admire the friendships between men.

That led me to liking BL (Boys' Love).

I guess I also want to read about what I don't have.

Men's friendships.

It's kind of a secret garden.

We are into it because it shows us the forbidden.

[ Music continues ]

Boys' Love is not the reason

I don't have a boyfriend right now.

Right now, I'm not looking for anybody.

I guess that I give priority to my job?

Yeah, I'm busy at work.

-Boys' Love is our relaxation, isn't it? -Yes, yes.

-Isn't it true? -Right.

We have a lot of stress.

I'm tired of being in love with somebody.

I'm tired of looking for somebody.

Yes, falling in love needs lots of energy,

and we don't have the energy now.

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

Do you ever talk to the women

about what gives them gratification,

whether it's emotional, whether it's physical?

It seems like there's a lot of insecurity

associated with this form of consumption.

A lot of the people don't feel confident

as a heterosexual being.

But the fujoshi seem to feel insecure

when it comes to dating the other male.

And that's why they're really consuming boys having sex,

because they don't want to project themselves

into that body, so it makes them feel better.

I think it's very difficult for Japanese men as well.

A statistic came out a year ago that showed about 40%

of the male population of Japan are virgins.

-What? -They were saying that 40%

of the Japanese male population are virgins.

It's almost like a vicious cycle.

[ Up-tempo music plays ]

Everybody has a name.

This is Natasha.

She is Kyoko.

She is Catherine.

Kyoko is like a dominatrix.

Natasha is my favorite.

I started by being into manga and anime

and then figurines of manga characters.

And then my interest went bigger.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

I heard about a love doll made out of silicone.

I bought a used one on a Yahoo! Auction.

I do feel love for Natasha.

It's just one-way love, though.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Music continues ]

I don't tell her, "I love you"

but I kiss her.

The doll is a doll.

I don't have a girlfriend now,

but I want one.

They are completely different things.

A new girlfriend will have to accept them.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

CHOO: As a media scholar,

I'm wondering if the heavy consumption

of all these other forms of entertainment

are taking away time from actual human connection.

So, online culture, robots?

Gaming. Yes.

And if you're playing games all the time,

if you're reading comic books,

and with the development of all this robotic technology

that are producing sex dolls,

I think there is a lot of anxiety

associated with Japanese masculinity.

And when you, as an academic,

think about where this is going to lead this country

socially, economically, culturally --

That is the million-dollar question, yeah.

We don't kiss in the public.

And we don't break the fuinki. We don't do it.

Fuinki is the atmosphere, you know, the kind of feeling.

Japanese quiet is good.

JESSE: She would always yell at me --

"You're breaking the fuinki!"

I said, "God. What's the fuinki?"

Just like in the elevator. It's, like, international.

JESSE: Yeah. They're always like...

-He always talk. -...on the elevator or something

-in their minds. -Very cheerful. Too much.

[ Laughs ] Too cheerful?

"Just be quiet," to him.

[ Laughs ]

We've been married for 21 years.

You can't tell, but she's the boss.

Well...yeah.

That's how we are.

[ Both laugh ]

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

AMANPOUR: Women are no longer willing

to take the place that society has imposed on them.

They don't all want to be the perfect daughter

who grows up to be the perfect housewife,

and a massive shift is under way.

[ Music continues ]

Oh, good. We're gonna get some drinks now.

We can loosen up a little bit.

[ Laughter ]

AMANPOUR: I've come to meet a group of friends

at their regular hangout

where they gather to dish on their lives

and their loves.

Ladies, let's talk about sex.

How is sex?

I like it.

[ Laughter ]

Yeah?

Do you think men here, the people who you're dating,

and your husband, and your partners,

do they care about your happiness,

about your emotional and your physical satisfaction?

Mm...

Probably, maybe.

[ Laughter ]

No, no way.

No?

Sometimes they care,

but most men care about themselves in the end.

You know, we've been talking to a lot of people

and we've heard about a lot of this "sexless" thing.

Like, this is a sexless culture. Is it?

Most of my married friends tell me they are sexless.

Yes, I heard that too.

When they're married, there's a lot of sexless.

But if not, maybe not.

So is it better not to be married?

I guess long-term relationships make them sexless.

So like everywhere, everything's great at the beginning,

-and then it changes. -Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes, yes.

And what about you? How's sex in your marriage?

[ Laughter ]

What about her?

How about you?

[ Laughter ]

Touché. Touché.

Does your husband make you happy?

Does he care about how you feel?

Yeah.

And do you still have sex, even though you've got two kids?

-No. -You don't?

-No, no. -WOMAN: Not with her.

-What?! -[ Laughter ]

Why not?

Wow, that means she has sex with...

Who do you have sex with, then?

The Japanese don't talk much about that.

Not even with our spouse.

WOMAN: This is Japanese tradition.

We don't talk about much, I think.

We respect each other without sex.

And I sleep with the kids.

I understand that that is traditional in Japan.

Mother often sleeps with the children,

and the husband sleeps alone.

But sex is not just sex.

It's about intimacy, it's about hugging --

physical love as well as intellectual love.

We don't even do that, we don't even hug.

WOMAN: She doesn't even hug.

AMANPOUR: You don't even hug?

Do you feel lonely?

-Lonely. -You do? You feel lonely?

Do you ever tell him that you're not happy?

I've never talked about it.

He would pretend not to hear

or just wouldn't answer.

He probably wouldn't say anything.

He will probably think he didn't hear anything.

He would say, "What happened?"

-What's his name? -Takeo.

So tonight, you say, "Takeo,

it's time for us to have some intimacy."

What would he say?

Well, I don't think I want that.

Oh, you don't want to?

No, I don't want to.

Oh. Why?

It's already...it's too...

[ Laughs ]

It's been too long, for a long time.

It's been too long.

How long has it been?

More than ten years.

More than ten years.

What?!

[ Laughter ]

So do you think you have a good marriage?

We have a good relationship even without the sex,

so I don't want to break it.

How many times have you said "I love you" in your life?

So many times.

A lot.

Oh, you have? To who?

My husband.

-You have? -And my boyfriend.

-WOMAN: Yes. -You have a boyfriend now?

[ Laughter ]

Oh!

This is our secret.

It's a secret? It's a secret on television?

[ Laughs ]

No.

-Does your husband know? -No.

-No? -Yes.

What would he do if he found out?

Divorce?

-No, no. -No? Why?

I have kids.

So you're happy now?

-Yes. Yes. -Yeah.

Do you think Japanese society is changing for women?

Mm.

Yes, I think things will change.

Women of this generation know

about cultures of other countries.

Husband and wife make room for the kids

but maintain a real couple's relationship.

We see they go out on dates and things like that.

So I think it will change.

Do you think you can break the system?

What do you want for your life?

Be myself.

Be myself.

Be myself, enjoy.

I want to be a married couple who can do that every day.

And have sex? Often?

WOMAN: [ Speaking Japanese ]

-Yeah. -Yeah?

Yeah.

There's hope.

MAN: When your dad comes home, do you think he kisses your mom?

-WOMAN: He does. -MAN: Okay.

MAN: He's Japanese, but not in certain respects.

He's quite romantic, yeah.

Um, not like French kissing.

But I've seen my parents, you know, peck.

But I don't think he'd do that in front of...

the grand public.

AMANPOUR: There are rules for everything here.

Rules that keep people in their own lanes,

on a path to respectability, to satisfying society,

and looking for happiness is a major no-no.

-KIYO: Oh! -Whoa.

Kimi and her husband, Kiyo, have helped themselves,

and they're now trying to help other couples

break out of that social straitjacket.

So I see you doing this business.

[ Laughter ]

Usually hold it like this.

-You relax your hands this way. -Okay. Relax.

-And then waggle a little so... -Waggle a little, yeah.

-It's really like jello, man. -Yeah.

-Are we ready? -Go for it.

-[ Ball thwacks ] -KIYO: Oh!

-KIMI: Oh, good shot. -I got it! Ha ha!

KIMI: Yay! Cool.

-That was very good. -[ Laughs ]

I've honestly never bloody well hit a ball before.

-I mean, I've tried, but... -KIMI: [ Laughs ]

AMANPOUR: So how often do you come to the range?

KIMI: Probably every two weeks.

Is it common for a Japanese couple

to have that shared hobby?

It's getting that way, I would say.

In the past, it's mostly like men playing

for the corporate entertainment, wives stay at home.

But my husband doesn't do that.

I mean, oftentimes it's just us.

But it's second time lucky for your husband, right?

He didn't have a huge amount of success with his first wife.

-[ Laughs ] Yeah. -Not enough golf.

He straightened up his priorities.

Kiyo, your wife says that you straightened up.

You basically got your priorities right

when your married her.

What did you do wrong in your first marriage?

I used to believe that it was more valuable

to work a long time than to come home early.

Sometimes Japanese men don't come back

until like 10:00 in the evening,

but he comes back to, you know, share a dinner table with me.

Do you actually tell each other you love each other?

Yeah, we do.

That's quite rare, though, right?

Yeah, Japanese couples,

especially after getting married,

are not so outspoken about how they feel emotionally.

Even if they're in a romantic relationship,

even if they're married?

It seems like people go through stages

of their intimacy,

becoming mom and dad rather than husband and wife.

And a lot of people are really, you know,

looking to change that.

And I think that our activities,

in a playful way, is helping them achieve that.

The "adoring husband" organization?

Every year, we have this special event

for men to shout "I love you!" to their wives.

Megumi!

I'm sorry for always staying out late drinking!

Let's hug each other a lot tonight!

Thank you!

[ Man speaking Japanese ]

Yukari!

Thanks for taking care of the house and kids since we married!

Tai-chan!

I love you!

Happiness!

Mieko!

I love you!

AMANPOUR: You actually created a society out of nothing.

Yeah. We were really outspoken.

And then we were, like, holding hands

when we were walking together.

And we'd do a lot of things together.

So people thought, like, that was something new.

So they started to ask Kiyo,

"You look like an adoring husband,

and you look very happy together."

-Men were saying it to him? -Yeah.

We thought it would be fun to have some playful event

for men to be okay to express their love in public,

and it took off.

So that gives hope?

Yeah, I think so.

I'm going to ask Kiyo.

How do you feel about shouting "I love you"?

Oh, I feel really good.

Yeah. It feels really good.

It feels really light and refreshing after I say it.

KIMI: Yeah.

Will you ask him to shout love here?

KIMI: [ Laughs, speaking Japanese ]

[ Down-tempo music plays ]

There are so many people here.

You might get a load of new recruits.

In golf ranges, you're supposed to be quiet.

-Maybe in the parking lot. -Yeah.

-[ Speaking Japanese ] -Ah.

Well, if you really need to shoot the scene, I will do it.

He'll do it.

-Yeah? He'll do it? -Yeah.

[ Speaking Japanese ]

This is a public display of affection.

-Yeah. -The first we've seen in Japan.

KIMI: Yeah.

Aw!

After I met Mika, I do kiss.

I can now kiss, kind of freely.

-Something like you kiss her because you love her?

Something like that.

We're not an overtly "I love you" couple...

-Mm. -...really.

-Can you kiss her in front of the camera?

[ Laughing ]

I would like to say "I love you" more.

[ Music continues ]

-What about on the cheek?

Oh, on my cheek then?

Your cheek?

[ Music continues ]

[ Both laugh ]

[ Speaking Japanese ]

[ Music continues ]

Okay.

-Okay. -Okay.

-Okay. -Okay.

[ Shouting in Japanese ]

That is amazing.

Ah! That is amazing!