A crisis seems to have been plaguing Japan these days, with an unusual growth in the number of middle-aged men who are yet to lose their virginity.

There have been multiple efforts to tackle this issue and one of the most unusual methods devised is in the form of a specialized course with nude figure drawing sessions, especially designed to familiarize men with the female form.

Courtesy: AFP

The classes are held at the Virgin Academia, run by Shingo Sakatsume and this innovative correspondence course comes with a 100 page textbook, known as the Virgin Breaker!. This course runs for a whole year where the participants are expected to keep their counselor informed about their progress.

A recent survey (according to the Japan Times) revealed that 70 percent of unmarried men and 60 percent of unmarried women are not in a relationship (read here). But wait, it gets worse – 42 percent men and 44.2 percent women (18-34 age group) admitted that they were virgins. The group of men in their 30s, who have never had sex are referred to as Yaramisos, and there seems to be a steady growth of the group.

Therefore, these classes are aimed towards men who have failed to forge romantic/sexual relationships with women and according to Sakatsume, the main aim is to “approach the growing number of ‘unwilling virgins’ (people who want to have sex but aren’t able to)”.

Courtesy: AFP

The figure drawing sessions take place in Tokyo every month and allow all participants to encounter a naked woman in a neutral environment which is intended to help men familiarize themselves with the female body through the medium of art, without having to think about romance or any kind of pressure to perform sexually. This also helps prepare all participants for the future, should they suddenly find themselves in an intimate situation with a woman.

The goal behind this unorthodox method, according to Sakatsume, is to prepare the men to build a long-lasting relationship, based on mutual trust and help them get rid of their shyness.