[w1ntermute]

> Maybe it's because I'm only 23 and I'm not that "desperate".

It's because you're not a single Japanese woman living in Japan who's in her 30s. She's likely facing enormous pressure from her family and friends to get married.

In Japan, women's marriageability is often compared to Christmas cake - expired after 25.

[brazzy]

For people who prefert a visual illustration:

http://www.conniewonnie.com/2012/09/single-girl-asian-daught...

[nandemo]

The social pressure does exist, but the Christmas cake thing died down with the Showa era. Nowadays the average wedding age is closer to 30 than to 25.

[wisty]

Her parents probably don't know that.

[bluetidepro]

I will admit that I'm not super familiar with the Japanese culture. If that was the case, that would make sense. However, if that was also the case, don't you think she would be less strict on the requirements of finding a mate?

[potatolicious]

It's possible that one doesn't want to be married, and that the impossible standards (which would appear quite reasonable to the conservative/traditional parent) is a neat way to say "see mom, no one fits this very reasonable bill, so lay off!"

Disclaimer: I have Asian parents.

[VSerge]

The reaction to this is a bit interesting.. There's some understanding, some judgement, some cultural explanations, but nobody seems to be asking whether the fundamental question here. With the web doing all it does today, why is it that it still sucks at making people meet one another? Actually just made that a ask hn if you think this warrants a bit of introspection. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4688533