Friendship and Relationship Japanese Features Soceity and Customs

Friendships among Japanese Youngsters: SeFure and others

Interesting, but unbelievable friendships have been getting momentum among Japanese youngsters: SeFure (Japanese: セフレ), SoFure (ソフレ), and Ofure (オフレ).  Have you ever heard of them? 

Image by Анна Куликова from Pixabay used under CC

SeFure (セフレ) is not a newcomer.  It is a shortened form of Sex Friend.  The definition is pretty self-explanatory, which is casual "relationship" for physical interactions.  It does mean a sort of contract for both of the party benefiting for their physical needs.

However, as you can easily imagine, this SeFure relation ends up creating a problem, especially when one starts developing more love toward the other, right?  Young Japanese, however, seem to well handle this love life better.

The second and the third terms, SoFure (ソフレ) and OFure (オフレ), are pretty new, but have been gaining recognition, and popularity in Japan.  SoFure means friends who can lie and sleep next to each other.  Yes, just lie and sleep, nothing more. "So" comes from (yori)sou, which means being or lying "near" or "next to" in English, while "Fure" means friends as in SeFure. 

OFure means friends who can take a bath together.  It is a shortened form of Ofuro (English: bath) Friends.  Sometimes, it means friends who can go to a public bath, where men and women separately, not together, take a bath.  Usually, OFure friends take a bath together at home, sharing relaxing time with each other.  Of course, they do not wear bathing suits or anything.  Nothing is expected after taking a bath!!

Older generations have started recognizing these terms, but can never imagine themselves being in that kind of friendships.  In contrast, younger generations, especially where more and more Soshokukei Danshi (English: herbivore men, Japanese: 草食系男子) claim to be as such, like these kinds of "SOFT" relationships.  They are reluctant about having a seemingly "regular" and serious relationship with women.  (For more about Soshokukei Danshi, check our previous post).

No wonder, Japanese society has been experiencing the lowest birth rate, right?  

What do you think of these unique terms?  Would you like to get one or both?