Attitudes Toward Arranged Marriage in Rural Japan

Abstract

Up until the end of World War II, the traditional family system (kazoku-seido) had long been considered a bulwark of Japanese society. Confucian ethical ideas supporting a patrilineal, patriarchal family structure constituted the core values of the Japanese culture and were the source of justification for legal regulations governing and regulating behavior in all avenues of life. Since World War II, influence of Western ideas with their emphasis on individual rather than family orientation in the choice of occupation as well as a marriage partner have received legal support in the post-war Constitution and its orientation toward Western liberal democracy. There is considerable evidence of changes taking place in Japanese values concerning personal and public relationships, particularly in urban areas. This paper reports a study measuring the changing attitudes in a particular rural setting as pertains to marriage by the use of psychological techniques.