
Man or woman, sexy or frumpy, unwanted romantic advances and date requests are probably a serious hassle. We wouldn’t know because the last time someone asked us on a date was 1972, but we’re fairly certain if someone we didn’t like asked us out, we’d struggle to come up with a tactful rejection.
So, for those of you who are asked out with any kind of regularity, you can commit the following awesome rejection lines courtesy of Japanese Internet users to memory so you’ve always got a snappy response to let your jilted would-have-been stalker down easy.
The “college in another prefecture” excuse
“A guy I asked out told me he’d love to, but he was just about to ship off to college in another prefecture. I couldn’t argue with that,” said a teen girl who got rejected. Note that this excuse only works up to the age of 20 or so, because, “Sorry, but I’m auditing some adult education classes in Oklahoma” just doesn’t have the same romantic vibe.
The “I really like you, but…” excuse
There are various ways to play this, with the classic example being “I really would, but I’ve already got a girlfriend/boyfriend.” This lets the rejectee know you like them just fine, but the circumstances just aren’t right. More creative efforts include, “I really like you, but I’m so scared of ruining what we have now.”
Of course, you could go for broke with an excuse so bizarre the rejectee will be shocked to the point of forgetting all about you. “I really like you a lot, but I’m afraid I’m madly in love with my anime girl body pillow,” might work.
The “It’s not you, it’s me” excuse
One 20-something female recalled a boy telling her, “I just know I don’t have what it takes to make you happy and I think you deserve better.” Another said she got rejected by a guy who said he needed to concentrate on work so he could be successful and maybe one day be her perfect man.
The “I can’t forget the one” excuse
There’s something just so romantic about stoically waiting for the one that got away to come back into your life that this excuse is guaranteed to make the jiltee love you even more and instantly forgive your on-the-spot rejection.
The “I don’t date (insert nationality)” excuse
Otherwise known as the blatant racism option. You could also take this same concept and run with it, identifying your dream man/woman as someone who meets some impossible-to-achieve standard you have: “I only date digital representations of real women and/or janitorial equipment,” or something to that effect.
Of course, there are other ways to reject a date request. Personally, I’m hoping to one day use the “wait until someone who has a crush on you is approaching, then quickly turn away and hug yourself so it looks like you’re passionately making out with someone” technique, but I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over as smoothly as the above excuses.
Source: Niconico News


Dating simulator girlfriends reject human boyfriends’ kisses due to game/heartbreaking bug
How women can shoot down dessert dates before they’re even invited, according to Japanese Twitter
Five ways guys blow their chances at singles’ parties in Japan
Want to date RocketNews24’s most eligible bachelor? Here’s your chance! 【Contest】
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
7-Eleven Japan adds new cold soup smoothies to its convenience store drinks range
Godiva Japan gets into the shaved ice scene with two luxurious frozen desserts this summer
New Studio Ghibli washi tape adds anime flair to Japanese stationery
Japan’s foreign resident population hits record high as Japanese population hits record low
New service lets Tokyo tourists display their faces on giant screen at Japan’s busiest intersection
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Pokémon Card Stores requiring facial recognition scans for entry in Japan in latest anti-scalper move
Family Mart’s new Famima flagship in Tokyo has a hidden gem that most visitors miss
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
11 ways to have a great Christmas date…when your date is a bowl of instant noodles
King of Japan’s bar hosts shares idea for a sure-fire romantic date
Educator offers advice for Japanese schoolgirls who get asked out by their teachers
New smartphone game allows you to date the man, monkey, or dessert of your dreams
Women in Japan reveal their worst dating experiences
There’s a surprising potential risk that’s making more Japanese youth turn to dating apps
We asked: “What are the hardest and best things about dating a Japanese person?”
The time we (almost certainly) got scammed by a dating app in Tokyo’s bar district
Man selling ring intended for girlfriend who dumped him gets no sympathy from potential buyer
Japanese company will ask your crush out on a date for you if you’re too shy to do it yourself
Is it OK to take your girlfriend to Yoshinoya on a date?
Roughly 40 percent of single Japanese men in their 20s have never been on a date, survey says
“He wore Uniqlo to meet me!” Japanese woman shares petty bad date story, Internet bites back
Does a guy lose all chance with a Japanese woman if he doesn’t pay for the first date?【Survey】
A Japanese dating app matched our bachelorette with a Buddhist monk, and she learned some things