Even as the season of love and romance descends upon us in all its hues of gooey cherry-reds and electrifying pinks, a great number of Japanese women remain . . . shira-keteru (frigidly sober).

In some cases, they're even outright grim. Take 36-year-old Midori, who has recently registered at a Kekkon Sodanjyo (a marriage-consultation center, an institution that specializes in computerized matchmaking, relationship nurturing and premarriage counseling) reputed to have sent more than 60,000 happy couples to the altar.

"Shikatanai-yo (it can't be helped)" says Midori, whose last relationship had ended when she was 29, and who has since then been living for nomikai (drinking parties), kaimono (shopping) and ryoko (vacations) -- the three pillars that support the often fragile equilibrium of the Japanese female professional. "I wasn't meeting any eligible men on the job and at my age, it's stupid to waste time. I want to get married and have a baby within the next 18 months with minimum fuss. I just don't have time for Valentine's Day nonsense."