[gafusa]

Certainly the break down of the family particularly the lack of a father, as well as the way they are treated by the education system, has left many with no expectations.

[RangerM]

I found this article:

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:t_LBG__RD8sJ:www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/makeprfy.pl5%3Ffl20000407a1.htm+japan+men+living+with+their+mother&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=6

[bondjamesbond]

Certainly the break down of the family particularly the lack of a father...

You may be onto something. I know when I was 18, there was definitely the feeling that there was one too many men living in the house. It wasn't my house, so I left and Dad stayed! If he had not been there, I don't think it would have been a problem at all being home with Mom.

The natural -- I wouldn't quite call it hostility, but, shall we say, "rivalry" -- between fathers and sons is a powerful factor pushing young men out the door.

I note that the author uses the term "boys", while referring to men in their 20s! LOL!