Loser Dog

Last week we met a really lovely Japanese lady named Yuki at a wine tasting party who had spent her high school years in Westchester. We were talking about life in Tokyo for the average Japanese and got on the topic of the dating scene. Yuki shed some light on this that I had never heard before.  Apparently it's cats and dogs out there in the meat (fish?) market.  If you are an unmarried lady at 24, you are called Christmas Eve, at 25, you are Christmas Day, and after 25, you are known as Christmas Cake. Old and stale. Nearing your 30s, you are called New Year's Eve. I expected the holiday analogy to continue, but after, 30 yo, I'm sorry......you are now a LOSER DOG!!  That is a pretty harsh term in my book.  Why couldn't we just transition to a Jan/Feb holiday?. Apparently this phrase was coined by an author, Junko Sakai ( I later learned on Google), in her book, HOWL of the LOSER DOG.  It is a Japanese version of Bridget Jones Diary and is meant to try to explain how the WINNER DOGs are cold and calculating and succeed at getting men.  These dogs are married with two kids in a prestigious preschool by their early 30s (Smug marrieds).  Although the term LOSER DOG sounds quite derogatory, it is meant to champion the cause of those independent, self made, still single and loving it 30-40 year olds.  Secretly though, it kind of sounds like they want to be the WINNER DOGS but have found a different path in life.  Japan's population is shrinking, and it is because more and more LOSER DOGS are quite happy with themselves and have no interest in marriage nor children. Back to our new friend, Yuki.  She had bought an apartment in Tokyo and had imagined herself growing old there into her 60s (+/- five cats and a few pigeons?) but those plans are not going to happen, because alas she is getting married this year to an American guy she meant recently.  WINNER DOG after all.