Makeinu no Toboe (2005)

Makeinu no Toboe 2005 / 負け犬の遠吠え 2005 / The Howl of the Loser Dog ,

The story covers the life of makeinu, or as one Japanese psychologist refer as parasite singles. In Japan, a woman not married and bearing children by her 30s are considered to be a burden to Japanese society, as it affects tradition where the woman should get married in her 20s. Experts even believe that the makeinu affects the overall population of Japan, which continues to decline each year for the past 15 years or so. Many makeinu end up living with her parents, and a large percentage of her earnings are spent on frivolous things like parties, trips, and expensive bags. The three makeinu in this story represent three distinct types: One is a very successful businesswoman who longs for marriage and children but who found fulfillment in her professional responsibilities; another is a divorced, childless woman who didn't see any point in going through marriage again; and the third is a ditzy fashion fatality who would like to marry but only if the man had lots of money and she didn't have to give up her frivolous lifestyle. ~~ Based on the best-selling but controversial non-fiction book by Sakai Junko (酒井順子), who herself is a makeinu (literally translated as ‟loser‟).