It’s often noted that more aesthetically appealing individuals generally have an easier time of things, with better job prospects, wider social circles, and of course greatly increased chances of success with the other sex. Conversely, less physically appealing people can sometimes consider themselves at a disadvantage to their prettier peers, especially when it comes to marriage options.
With plummeting fertility rates in Japan, and a rapidly aging population threatening to collapse national resources, the spectre of the young, childless singleton looms large. As fewer Japanese chose to get married and settle down in general, the plight of those less fortunate in the looks department seems all the more poignant.
Luckily, Morinaga Takuro, a popular TV personality and economic analyst (two occupations that rarely go together) has put his prodigious skills to the task, and come up with a revolutionary solution. He argues that by imposing an extra tax on handsome men, and reducing taxes on their more homely friends, women will be more likely to opt to settle down with less attractive mates, start families, and help re-balance Japan’s seriously skewed demographic pyramid.
Morinaga explains that whilst a person can become wealthy or charming, physical characteristics such as height, a fulsome smile, or lush locks, simply cannot be replicated
Arguing that criteria for lovability can be broken down into three fundamental components, primarily (1) appearance, (2) wealth, and finally (3) charm, Morinaga explains that whilst a person can become wealthy or charming, physical characteristics such as height, a fulsome smile, or lush locks, simply cannot be replicated, giving the more beautiful a big advantage when it comes to romance. He sees the ‘redistribution of wealth’ as merely a way of evening out this inequality.
Morinaga cites a fundamental “love gap” (the emotional equivalent of the “wealth gap” which renders many young men undatable) as instrumental in the decline of Japan’s birthrate, and posits that in filling this gap, the country’s limp economy could also be rebooted.
To determine wether men would qualify for the tax boost, or paradoxically depressing reduction, he suggests that the individuals would be assessed by a randomly selected panel of women
According to Morinaga, ‘The income-gap is often focused on, but what’s more severe is the gap in appearance. Men who look good get an unbelievable amount of women. There are even men who’ve had relationships with over 100 women at the same time. Consequently, the problem arises that women only focus on one group of men.’
To determine whether men would qualify for the tax boost, or paradoxically depressing reduction, he suggests that the individuals would be assessed by a randomly selected panel of women. For now though, the wallets of Japan’s hunks are safe. Morinaga is a self-confessed otaku, the Japanese term for nerdy, awkward men, who are more likely to interact with fictional anime females over real women. Before he puts his plan into action, he’ll first have to pluck up the courage to talk to a living breathing girl.
