Parents going on a date instead of their children in Osaka city (Japan) – Photo: Getty Images
On this date, very few people talk about their hobbies, favorite movies or restaurants. Instead, they talk about their adult, still single children whom they hope to marry as soon as possible.
A woman in her 60s spoke proudly about her 34-year-old son, who is currently a public primary school teacher. The 80-year-old man spoke fondly of his 49-year-old son, who works at a power company.
too busy to date and get married
Offer Information Each parent spent 14,000 yen ($96) to attend the event organized by the Parents Association. They all hope to meet someone like them, a single parent who has children who can be the perfect life partner for their child.
Due to rising costs of living, poor economic prospects and a tough work culture, fewer young Japanese are choosing to marry and have children. Worried about their children’s future and longing to take care of their grandchildren, many parents have gone on dates for their children.
Noriko Miyagoshi Co., which has been organizing matchmaking events for nearly two decades, says the idea of parents helping their children match this way has become more popular.
Earlier people might have felt embarrassed to participate in these events, but times have changed.
Japan is facing a marriage crisis that threatens to devastate the demography of the world’s third-largest economy. Today, Japanese people marry less frequently, have fewer children, and have fewer people living in the country.
Parents spent 14,000 yen (96 USD) each to attend the event organized by the Parents Association for Proposal Information – Photo: Getty Images
Priority should be given to marriage first.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a trillion-yen plan to boost the birth rate, warning it was a “now or never” situation. Some incentives for parents include a monthly allowance of 15,000 yen ($100) for each child age 2 or younger and 10,000 yen for three or more children.
But James Ramo, an East Asian studies expert at Princeton University, said efforts to raise the birth rate without boosting marriage rates are unlikely to succeed.
Sociologist Shigeki Matsuda (Chukkyo University in Aichi, Japan) said that failure to solve this problem would have serious consequences, such as a decline in overall economic strength and national wealth, difficulties in maintaining social security, and loss of social capital in local communities. .
Mr. Matsuda said that it is not that people do not want to get married. According to a survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security last year, about 80% still want to get married. What is more important is that he believes the obstacles on the journey are “insurmountable”.
Japan’s youth have faced poor job prospects and unequal pay since the 1990s. Due to this, their financial ability to marry has become weak.
Mr. Remo had a similar view, saying that Japan’s high cost of living and notoriously long working hours make things worse.
“If you work 70 hours a week, of course you won’t find the right partner because you won’t have time to meet someone,” he explains.
(tagstotranslate)matchmaking
