Where are the American Herbivores?

I think our carnivorous population needs to make room for some herbivory. In Japan, there is a new generation of boys that embraces what we as Americans would not consider masculine: going out for desserts, spending more time with family and friends, leading a non-competitive life. I think a lot of men would feel relieved now that they wouldn’t have to be concrete, stoic, apathetic, violent, and extremely fit. I also think that if men were given an opportunity to break out of their shells, that it would be more acceptable for women to take on roles that were previously seen as uncharacteristic. What sparked this Japanese phenomenon to occur now, and how did it become so popular? It is assumed that because masculinity was defined as being a working man, Japanese fathers were not as present in their children’s lives, thus lots of younger Japanese men have rejected the roles that their fathers fulfilled. These herbivores, as they are nick-named, have embraced a life centered around family, passivity, and acceptance. An estimated 60% of young Japanese men (ages 20-30) identify themselves as herbivores. This huge portion of the population has had a significant effect on the economy of Japan. Because herbivores are not keen on consumerism, sales have noticeably decreased; herbivores are also seemingly asexual, and thus, birth rates have dropped recently too. I think it would be interesting to see how the United States would fair if such a generation emerged.