It also depends on culture. The article says that Japanese women don't find Japanese men as attractive partners because of low pay, long working hours for them, etc., but there's also the fact that young Japanese men just aren't that interested in having sex or pursuing women. This cultural phenomenon, known as Sōshoku danshi （草食男子）, or herbivorous men[0,1], has to end if things are going to turn around. These men are more interested in their hobbies and personal grooming. This image summarizes the problem well: http://i.imgur.com/SUVEp.jpg

In fact, it's often the opposite of what the article states - there's a trend among women called Nikushoku joshi （肉食女子）, or carnivorous women, where the women are actively pursuing men out of necessity.

0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivore_men

1: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10...