Francesca Santi Topics Covered
In recent years, Japan has been dealing with a demographic decline and a drastic reduction in marriages. In this context, a new trend has emerged among young people, the wedding of friendship.
In Japan, friendship marriage is becoming popular
According to a report of the South China Morning Post (SCMP), an ever-increasing number of young people are opting for a new type of marital relationship that It does not involve love or sex. The trend is based on shared values and interests and people see it as an alternative to traditional marriage. According to estimates provided by Colorus, the first marriage agency to deal with this kind of meetings, 1,2 million people (1% of the Japanese population) expressed interest.
How does friendship marriage work?
Those who have embraced the new trend do not marry the person they love or have a romantic relationship with, but they can enter into a legal marriage with someone with whom they are only friends. In this case, the spouses can also have relationships with other people on the basis of a mutual agreement. In addition, they have the possibility of deciding to have children through artificial insemination. Over 70% of partners have chosen this solution to build a family, since in Japan it is still difficult for a womens singles embrace motherhood.
What are the benefits
The SCMP report noted that the trend is more popular among asexual individuals, but highlighted the importance of friendship marriage for LGBTQ+ people, who can pursue this alternative path, given that same-sex marriage It is not legal in Japan. It has finally turned out to be an escape route even for those who are not willing to get married, but do so to present an image of themselves “stable and mature” in front of society or to please parents.
