Historically, Japanese society exhibited an open attitude to sex, viewing it generally as being just one of a number of normal bodily functions, like eating and drinking, and a natural part of everyday life. The most sought after women as wives were those with sturdy bodies, best suited to child-bearing as well as working in the fields. Physical beauty wasn’t a major consideration. Procreation was an important reason for couples to have sex, and with communal bathing being common, there was no prudishness or shamefulness about the human body. Although the Jesuits and Christian missionaries … [Read more...]