Hamster dating sim could decrease Japan’s birth rate “even further,” jokes former politician after playing it

A Japanese politician is warning that the country’s already low birth rate will likely fall even more because of a popular new video game where players take on the role of a hamster in a dating simulation.

Nobuteru Ishihara, a former Secretary-General of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, recently had a chance to preview Sweet Hamster Days.

We first noticed this game in August 2025 because of its unique idea: you play as a hamster who’s been reborn after being hit by a car.

Instead of spending your life in a pet store or endlessly repeating the same actions, you’ll be pampered and loved by three beautiful owners – all portrayed by Japanese models.

But there’s more! The game developers have also created some incredibly immersive and potentially controversial content, including the ability to observe yoga classes and participate in “private lessons.” This has sparked concern from former politician Ishihara, who worries it could further contribute to Japan’s declining birth rate.

Former Japanese politician plays hamster dating sim game

In an interview with Friday Digital, while watching clips from the game – specifically a scene with the oldest of the three sisters – Ishihara seemed genuinely surprised.

Ishihara jokingly expressed concern about a new, highly realistic virtual reality experience, calling it potentially ‘dangerous’ and predicting it might even lead to a decline in birth rates. He then playfully added that he found the oldest character in the game to be the most attractive.

Even though he admitted he hadn’t played video games since the late 1970s with Space Invaders, the former politician seemed to have fun playing Sweet Hamster Days. He even shared his favorite character from the game – Himori, the youngest sister.

Ishihara jokingly said he preferred the youngest sister because he finds her adorable. He quickly added a compliment for his wife, explaining that he’s always been attracted to petite women and his wife shares that quality, making the younger sister his current preference.

The game features a cute scene where Himori, dressed as a maid, feeds you a strawberry. It’s a fun way to make sure you get at least one serving of fruit each day while you play!

Ishihara, like many players, found the idea behind Sweet Hamster Day to be quite unusual. The game puts you in the role of a man reborn as a hamster who lives with three attractive women—a concept you don’t see every day! He admitted he was surprised such games existed and even confessed to being embarrassed about playing it.

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2026-06-15 13:49