Culture+and+Govt

Marriage and Family Customs

The traditional form of the Japanese marriage is defined by the word //ie://
 * Means: embracing not only the structure of the family but the bonds uniting its members, the family assets, and the activities connected with it
 * As opposed to a Christian world view as individual children of God but member of a family unit.
 * Most valued are parents and ancestors
 * The man held unchallengeable authority over the rest of the family while the significance of the woman's role was primarily for giving birth to male offspring.
 * Was law for hundreds of years, abolished in 1947

Present Day Marriages
 * Women have rights to inheritance, divorce, and the ability to choose a partner themselves
 * It is still taboo to marry outside of one's own socioeconomic status
 * Arranged marriages still exist, however the majority or marriages are based on love.
 * Some Japanese people use professional go-between (or nakado) services to find a partner.
 * In the 1990's the divorce rate was only 1%

Japanese Government
 * Constitutional Monarchy: the Emperor (Akihito) acts as head of state within the very limiting parameters of the constitution, while the Prime Minister hold the majority of the power
 * The National Diet of Japan is Japan's Legislature: consists of House of Representatives of Japan and the House of Councillors
 * The Executive Branch consists of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister, and the Ministries
 * Their system of government runs very similar to ours