They say that you never forget your first love, especially if it looks like a big wad of cold hard cash. Wait… what? According to a new survey, when asked whether love or money is more important, Japanese 20-somethings are firmly choosing cash over kisses.

Love and marriage don’t go together like a horse and carriage for Japan’s 20-somethings. A celebrity-inspired phenomenon has seen many eschew the dating game, instead going straight for the shotgun – marrying after minimal dating periods to avoid the hassle of getting to know someone.

‘No sex please, we’re Japanese!’ Sensational headlines suggest that Japan’s sexual appetite is waning; half the population aren’t having sex. But as a country that boasts more sex establishments than there are McDonald’s outlets in America – with 1.4 million couples visiting them daily – is this lack of libido a myth?

By 2020, Japan's prime minister Shinzō Abe wants women to fill 30% of the nation's senior management roles. Yet despite efforts to get women into work, a growing number are targeting domestic bliss. Are dreams of a family funded by a high-earning husband anything more than a fairytale?