WOMEN
“Masquerade Couples”: Why Partners in Japan Would Rather Stay Silent Than Get Divorced
One Japanese couple has barely spoken to one another in four years. But they refuse to divorce. How Japan encourages these so-called…
divorce
WOMEN
LAW & CRIME
“Accidental” Affair? Japan Supreme Court Reconsiders Cheating Damages Award
On June 5, 2026, Japan's Supreme Court issued its first-ever ruling on a question most Westerners don't know Japanese law even asks:…
WOMEN
Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 Japanese Women Hate Their Husbands
A recent survey of married women in Japan revealed that almost one in five can't stand their partners. Learn why - and…
SOCIETY
Why Post-Death Divorce is Popular in Japan
Why do some people - particularly women - go out of their way in Japan to divorce their spouse's families after death?…
WOMEN
Japanese Law Made Me Change My Name Three Times
A Japanese woman's first-hand account of how Japan's law requiring joint spousal surnames impacted her life and sense of identity.
SOCIETY
Japan Will Finally Repeal 300-Day Paternity Rule from 1898
Japan's government signals it'll scrap a Meiji era law that has put women at risk and left hundreds of kids unregistered.
SOCIETY
Separate Ways: Why Joint Parenting After Divorce in Japan is So Rare
In Japan, divorce often means a permanent good-bye for at least one parent. Learn why some activists are fighting to change that.