In modern Japan, more than 70% of all marriages are referred to as “love
marriages,” the rest are the more traditional arranged marriages (omiai).
When an arranged marriage is desired, the man and woman, who are seeking a
marriage partner, enlist the help of a go-between (nakodo). This allows
the couple to meet and get to know each other and decide if a marriage is
suitable. It is quite common for the parents of the man and woman to be present
at the first meeting. Afterwards the couple meets socially over a period of time
and then decides, if both are acceptable, to marry. This may seem a little
clinical in the west, but in Japan, with its high work ethic, and large
population, it is hard for some people to meet someone of the opposite sex.
Unlike matchmakers, or dating services in the west, the go-betweens are not
professional matchmakers, they are usually people that like to help out of
goodwill. Sometimes a go-betweens will be given a percentage (10%) of the
wedding preparation money that the groom gives the bride. This money allows the
bride to prepare for, and pay, all the costs of the wedding.
Are there any noticeable advantages to this system? Yes. The nakodo
with his/her knowledge and familiarity with both parties can bring together
couples that should be suitable. Even after the marriage the nakodo can
act as a marriage counselor to help the new couple with their problems. As a
result, the number of arranged marriages in Japan that fail is very small.
With “love marriages” spouses are usually selected from friends and colleges
(and siblings) who work at the same business or go to the same school. This is
not always easy due to the busy Japanese work schedule.
___________________________________________________________________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4903522.stm
Japan Pins Hopes on “Speed Dates”
|
||||||
It’s not But speed dating parties, as such events are known, are proving In Japan, though, some are paid for by the government. The hope is that by encouraging people to date, marry and start a It might not seem the most obvious scheme to tackle a falling birth At one event in central Tokyo, run by a firm called Exeo, 20 men and
Some couples seem to hit off instantly, while others are shy and “I don’t have a girlfriend and it’s difficult to meet women at work, so Love hurts Many of the people at the party seems to echo the same problems. They “It’s becoming harder to meet suitable partners these days and that’s
“Women used to be able to rely on family introductions, such as aunts Alternatively, company bosses used to take on the role of matchmaker Furthermore, modern Japanese women are able to find well-paid careers, Yet the desire for romance means that many people are willing to pay Falling population And local governments in Japan are prepared to provide financial
The economic effects are everywhere. Schools that were once full of baby boomers are now being closed down As the population ages, more strain is being placed on the state “One of Japan’s problems is that so few children are being born,” says “That’s why the local governments are coming up with incentives to ______________________________________________________________________________ |
================================================================
To
leave the list, send your request by email to:
wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.
Categories: Releases