Family Life

       Most children in Japan live in a two-parent household. In 1995 only 13% of families were single parent homes. Although the divorce rate in Japan has been increasing since 1990, most children are still living with both parents. There are, however, other problems within Japanese families. Many fathers do not spend very much time at home, and mothers are compelled to work due to increased economic strain. There has been little research on the implications of these problems for children. Big changes are taking place among Japanese families, but the effects on the children are still unclear. This page offers a broad description of family life of the majority of Japan. Due to language and time restrictions not all types of families are covered.

The Father's Role

History of Men's Roles
        In traditional Japanese families the father is held responsible for providing financial stability in the home. During the pre-feudal period the man's name dictated the class position of the family. Throughout the feudal period the men of the elite classes played the role of warrior. With industrialization more men were able to have their own households, yet their role changed very little. Men defended their family's livelihoods by seeking a job in an urban setting. During World War II men went off to fight and the women were left at home to take care of their families, and to replace the men in the work force.

Men's Roles in Modern Japan
        In modern Japan the men continue in their role as the main breadwinner. This role often limits their time at home with their children. Japanese men work an average of 46 to 47 hours a week, and this does not account for the over time that many of these mens' jobs require. Men often wake and leave the house early before their children are up, and arrive home late after their children have already gone to bed. Only about half of Japanese men regularly eat dinner with their children. Although Japanese fathers do not spend a lot of time with their children they are still highly respected and well regarded by them. Children hold their fathers in high regard, but many Japanese fathers underestimate their ability as fathers. Children's positive views of their fathers may be a result of their mother's efforts to portray their husbands as someone to be respected. Although Japanese fathers do not spend a lot of time with their children this does not mean that they are lacking as father figures.


The Mother's Role

       The historical and modern ideal in Japan is for women to stay at home. During World War II and the reconstruction thereafter women took over men's roles. The women went back into the home after the reconstruction until the 1970s when Japan fell into economic hardship. More women entered the work force in 1990 once again due to economic strain. Since then the trend of women entering the work force has continued, but the traditional gender ideals have not changed. Even though the woman may be working, in some cases just as many hours as the man, she is still expected to take complete responsibility for raising the children, and taking care of the home. Although this may seem unfair, the role of housewife and mother is one that holds a great deal of respect. In fact, many women in Japan highly value their role in the home and do not want their husbands interference.

       The woman's changing role has many implications for the children of Japan. The mother-child relationship is something that is highly valued both by mothers and the society of Japan. When mothers are forced to work and are not at home with their children a problem is created in their relationship. Women justify entering the workforce by asserting that it is their motherly duty to give the children a more economically stable life. Yet by entering the workforce, the mother introduces an element of instability into the children's lives, because they cannot receive the proper amount of attention from their mother. In addition to limiting their time with their children, entering the workforce also forces mothers to seek outside care for their children.

The Extended Family

        In 1995 17.5 percent of couples with children also had one or more of their parents living with them. In the past the parents of the married couples have lived in the same house because of the power that the parents held over the couple. Men often had a future in their father's business, and were therefore economically dependent. With modernization the power of the elders has become increasingly smaller yet, the number of multi generational households in Japan remains significant. This may be largely due to the fact that it is expensive to live in Japan and that childcare is also very costly. Children in Japan are becoming close to people other than their parent in many situations. When mothers work and children stay at home with their grandparents they are receiving a different type of care. How this is affecting children is still unclear, but it is a significant enough number that attention should be given to this new economic strategy.

Hiroshima, Kiyosi and Morgan, S. Philip. 1983. "The Persistence of Extended Family Residence in Japan: Anachronism or Alternative Strategy?" American Sociological Review 48:269-281.

Hsia, Hsiao-Chan and Scanzoni, John H. 1996. "Rethinking the Roles of Japanese Women." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 27:309-29.

Ishii-Kunts, Masako. 1992. "Are Japanese Families "Fatherless"?" Sociology and Social Research 76:105-200.

Kumagai, Fumie. 1995. "Families in Japan: Beliefs and Realities." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 26:135-63.

More Resources (pdf annotated bibliography)

The purpose of this site is to inform web users on the status and lifestyles of children in Japan. This site was designed by Joanna Boyle, Rachel Riezman, Hannah Wolod, and Ellen Vollmers as part of a collaborative web project for the first year writing seminar Children & Society at Tulane University taught by Professor April Brayfield.