Concur that there is a level of “subservience” still in the culture; however, since the 80’s that has changed rapidly.
My wife is Japanese - and therefore so are both of my sister-in-laws. A lot of what people are saying on this thread is so hyperbolic as to be satirical. The whole - take it beating thing is no more prevalent then in the US... actually likely less so due to the potential loss of “face”.
Are there wife beaters in Japan? Yes - there are in the US also and both get prosecuted.
Are there married cheaters in Japan - Yes and the wifes there ignore it a bit more then in the US, but that has changed with changes in the divorce laws over the years. Divorce is still seen as a potential face loser though in many cases - again losing face is changing over time as well. They’ve lost some cultural inhibitions just like we have.
The lack of children is occurring in all 1st world “more affluent” countries not just Japan. It comes from a desire to provide as much as possible and to give as much opportunity as possible to educate and prepare their kids for the future - which means limiting the number of kids....that and people being spoiled to the point they don’t want to take care of kids. It’s misguided but present in most advanced economies. (I come from a family of 5 and wished my wife could have had more than what we did, but...life suprises you sometimes in different ways then expected).
You noted that children are more prevalent in the country - I’d argue that this is true in the US also, with exception of the ghettos where they don’t really take care of them anyway, but pawn them off on whoever will look after them.
I worry about my Japanese niece/nephews.... I also worry about my US niece/nephews. Mostly though I keep the two shotguns clean for my two daughters. ;)
Wife beating may be against the law but a wife has to report it. From what I heard, Japanese wives DON'T report it. Neither do her relatives.
Men who beat wives here will get reported by wives, in-laws and neighbors.
I've heard that men who beat wives usually learned that behavior from daddy. Also, children of abused mothers learned how to deal with that abuse...for better or worse.
Also, boys who were beaten/abused by mommy dearest sometimes turn into wife-children beaters/abusers just to get even and validate themselves.
Lots of screwed up folks, aren't there?
At least life is short. I only hope they are ready for eternity...not so short.
Now that's being a great dad!
My father had an extremely deep voice and a look in his brown eyes that always seemed to assure that my dates got me home by curfew. Strange how the voice and look can do a number on a date.