Posted inQuestion about Japan
Is divorce big in Japan?
This article explores the history of divorce in Japan, current divorce rates, reasons for high divorce rates, Japanese attitudes toward marriage and divorce, the impact of divorce on children in Japan, and available support services for those going through a divorce. Divorce has been legal since 1873 but mutual consent divorces were not allowed until 1948. The rate of divorce has been steadily increasing since the 1950s and reached its peak in 2002 with 1.9 divorces per 1000 people. Reasons for the high rate include changes to social norms regarding marriage and family life, increased economic independence among women due to improved job opportunities, and increased pressure on couples due to long working hours and financial stressors such as high housing costs and rising health care costs. Support services are available online and offline for those going through a divorce.