#marriage in Japan

[jessicausa]

The Complexities and Dynamics of Arranged Marriage: A Modern Perspective

Arranged marriage, a tradition deeply rooted in various cultures around the world, has long been a subject of fascination, curiosity, and sometimes even controversy. While the concept might seem archaic to some, arranged marriages continue to thrive in many societies, albeit often evolving to accommodate modern sensibilities. In this essay, we delve into the complexities and dynamics of arranged marriage, exploring its historical significance, cultural variations, societal impacts, and the evolving attitudes towards this age-old institution.

Understanding Arranged Marriage

Arranged marriage, as the name suggests, is a union orchestrated by families or intermediaries, where the individuals involved often have little to no say in choosing their life partners. Unlike love marriages, where individuals typically meet, court, and decide to marry based on mutual affection, arranged marriages are founded on familial considerations, such as social status, financial stability, cultural compatibility, and familial alliances.

Historical Context

The practice of arranged marriage can be traced back thousands of years, with its origins deeply embedded in cultural, religious, and socioeconomic norms. In many ancient civilizations, marriages were strategic alliances between families, aimed at consolidating power, acquiring wealth, or preserving lineage. The concept endured through the centuries, adapting to changing social structures and norms.

Cultural Variations

Arranged marriage manifests in diverse forms across different cultures, each with its own rituals, traditions, and expectations. In some societies, such as India, Japan, and parts of the Middle East, arranged marriages are still prevalent, with families playing a central role in matchmaking. Conversely, in Western cultures, where individual autonomy is highly valued, arranged marriages are less common, though they do exist within certain immigrant communities.

The Role of Family and Community

Central to the institution of arranged marriage is the involvement of families and sometimes entire communities in the matchmaking process. Parents, relatives, and trusted intermediaries often take on the responsibility of finding suitable matches based on criteria deemed important for marital success. This involvement underscores the collective nature of marriage, where familial interests often supersede individual desires.

Navigating Tradition and Modernity

In recent decades, the dynamics of arranged marriage have undergone significant transformations, influenced by globalization, urbanization, and changing societal norms. While traditional arranged marriages were strictly arranged by parents without the consent of the individuals involved, contemporary arrangements often involve greater agency for the prospective partners. Many modern arranged marriages incorporate elements of compatibility testing, courtship, and mutual consent, blurring the lines between arranged and love marriages.

Challenges and Controversies

Despite its prevalence and adaptation to modernity, arranged marriage is not without its challenges and controversies. Critics argue that the practice can perpetuate gender inequality, restrict individual freedom, and lead to marital dissatisfaction and even abuse. Additionally, the pressure to conform to familial expectations and cultural norms can create immense stress for those involved, particularly for individuals who do not wish to participate in arranged marriages.

Gender Dynamics

Gender dynamics play a significant role in arranged marriages, with traditional notions of masculinity and femininity often shaping marital expectations and responsibilities. In many cultures, women are expected to prioritize familial harmony and obedience over personal autonomy, while men are tasked with providing for and protecting their families. These gendered expectations can influence the power dynamics within arranged marriages and contribute to inequalities.

Shifting Perspectives

Despite its challenges, arranged marriage continues to endure, albeit in evolving forms. In some cases, arranged marriages are celebrated for fostering stability, commitment, and familial bonds. Proponents argue that the involvement of families can provide valuable support and guidance, setting the foundation for successful partnerships. Moreover, arranged marriages are often viewed as a means of preserving cultural traditions and heritage in an increasingly globalized world.

Marriage Arrangement Aamboku

Conclusion

Arranged marriage, with its rich history and cultural significance, remains a complex and multifaceted institution. While traditional practices persist in many parts of the world, arranged marriages are also evolving to accommodate modern sensibilities and individual autonomy. As societies continue to grapple with questions of tradition, modernity, and individual rights, the institution of arranged marriage will likely remain a subject of fascination, debate, and adaptation. Ultimately, whether arranged marriage is perceived as a binding tradition or an outdated practice depends on one's cultural perspective and personal experiences.

[politijohn]

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Some good news!

[theside-b]

BL Couples + Husbands

[wayway01]

sayang

[egophiliac]

As someone who hasn’t played the twst game very long I just got into it. I wanted to know about events? Like do some not come back? For example do the Masquerade, Port, Beanfest, Ghost bride, starsending events. Do those come back? I hear people say how they missed their chance to get this great card like as if it won’t ever come back and then someone on Reddit will say something like “Oh beanfest happened twice on the JP server” so which events have gotten reruns so far? I would ask about more recent ones like the Easter one but idk if it’s too recent to know if get rerun or if they clarify that it won’t come back? I was really sad to find out about the Silk outfits I missed out on when they visit the scalding sands. I also was really sad to find out i missed out on the anniversary cards because I didn’t play the game yet. I wish they would add the anniversary cards to the store at least…I want to be apart of the celebration :’)

I was looking in the shop and saw all the different groovy items you need to groovify event cards and this question just came to me so I had the urge to ask someone…

welcome to Twst! 🎉 it is a bit confusing to jump right into, especially because. they're not always consistent. :') it sounds like you're probably playing on Eng, which I'm less familiar with, but I'll try based on what I know! (I also don't always remember everything, so somebody please correct me if I get something wrong!)

first, I do recommend the Twst wiki.gg, which seems to stay pretty up-to-date on events for both the Eng and JP versions! it's a great resource for when you want to see if/when an event ran or rerun. in general, I believe that the Eng version only does reruns that have already happened in JP, so if JP has a rerun that hasn't happened yet in Eng, they should get it too eventually! on the other hand, I don't think either version has ever rerun an event more than once. :( BUT this doesn't mean you're entirely out of luck, because:

anniversary events (March for JP, January for Eng) will usually offer a chance to get both an older event SSR and an older birthday SSR in the shop, via buying a special item with exchange currency (which you get by doing pulls on the anniversary gacha, I think you need to do 100-150 pulls for enough currency to buy the item to exchange for an SSR). only SSRs though, and you're limited to one each (one birthday, one event). so if there's an SSR you REALLY want and it's already had its rerun, it's probably worth planning to save up some keys for!

as for actual reruns, they seem to come in a few different flavors:

straight-up rerun, no changes or extra cards

unchanged event story, with a new SSR of a character who wasn't in the story (e.g. Applepom Jamil)

slightly rewritten event story that includes a new SSR (e.g. Ghost Marriage, they don't seem to do this anymore though)

completely new event story that acts as either a sequel or alternate-universe version of the original (e.g. Beans Day part 2, Fairy Gala IF) (though this is pretty rare and might actually count as a separate event, rather than a rerun?)

Master Chef/Culinary Crucible events have never gotten reruns (though they might start now that we've finally gotten through all the characters in JP, time will tell). birthday and Halloween events will also rerun the previous version in addition to the new one -- for instance, Eng should be getting a Glorious Masquerade rerun this year, followed by the new (Playful Land) Halloween event. and a birthday campaign will, in addition to the new card, have a separate pickup for the previous year's birthday card.

for the specific ones you mentioned -- I think Beanfest, Ghost Bride, Fireworks, and Starsending have already rerun in Eng, so those most likely will not be rerun again (at least not anytime soon). Masquerade should be coming back for you guys this Halloween, and Portfest JUST got its rerun in JP, so that should be coming too sometime in the future! (no new SSR though, alas, I was really hoping for a little marching band sailor boy Leona. 😔) the Easter event is the White Rabbit Fest, right? that one hasn't gotten a rerun in JP yet either, so it's still on the table!

all that said, it's entirely possible they'll change the rules at some point and start doing more reruns/chances to get older event cards, especially since the game's been going on for a few years now and some cards haven't been available for a pretty long time! there's only one card that they said was for-realsies limited-time-only and wouldn't ever be available again -- Platinum Grim, since he was to celebrate the 100th anniversary -- so. there's always a little bit of hope for everything else. :D (fairy gala Ortho PLEASE COME BACK SOB)

[animentality]

[fireprincesslily]

Sulemio defeats Destiel on Tumblr earlier this year and now Tokyo has ruled that Japan's Ban on Same Sex Marriage is unconstitutional?

[princeyam]

champions of my heart

[lilyginnyblackv2]

I think a lot of Buddy Daddies fans will be interested in this article by Unseen Japan entitled:  How discriminatory comments by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's secretary may lead to actual reform on LGBTQ+ issues in Japan.

Here is an excerpt from the article (with text provided underneath):

Text: Just days after Prime Minister Kishida minced words on legalizing same-sex marriage, his secretary Arai Masayoshi made things worse. Speaking to reporters off the record, Arai expressed his distaste for sexual minorities, saying, “I don’t want them living next to me either. ”Arai’s comments very much made it on the record. The ensuing backlash led to Kishida summarily sacking him. Arai’s blatant discrimination prompted politicians and activists to decry his comments and reignited discussions on the government’s failure to protect sexual minorities.

(Bold done by me for emphasis and to highlight what Arai said, specifically.)

There are also a lot of quotes by politicians in the article as well. One, Koizumi Shinjiro, makes this comment:

Text: Looking at the news reports on these statements, once again I feel that the government’s efforts to tackle the declining birth rate on a different dimension will never come to fruition if their policy is based on denying diverse values and ways of life [3].

It should be noted that many of the politicians, activists, and every day people in Japan do not agree with these sentiments and actually support same-sex marriage rights. Unseen Japan made a Twitter post about this, which I will link below.

Text:  A new telephone poll by Kyodo News says that, in the wake of discriminatory comments against LGBTQ people by PM Kishida’s (former) secretary, a full 64% of people in Japan support same sex marriage rights. Only 24.9% oppose.

And the wild thing is that Buddy Daddies is airing right now, right when it seems like issues regarding same-sex marriage, discrimination, and general rights are all starting to reach a boiling point in Japan. We have this show airing about two hitmen living together and raising a child together. IN MODERN DAY 2023 JAPAN.

That’s the big thing. They aren’t raising a kid together in a made up fantasy land or in a sci-fi future world or in a city based off of NYC. Kazuki and Rei are raising Miri in modern day, 2023, Japan. 

When Kazuki and Rei are at Miri’s daycare, listening to her speech with all the other parents (moms, really) like this:

They are going to be perceived as a same-sex couple. When the government official was looking over their paper work like this:

He was perceiving them as a same-sex couple. 

We know that one of the theme’s of the series is “two people of the same sex raising a child together.” That was a modern day theme that they wanted to explore. And they are exploring it so mundanely. Like, there are some ridiculous aspects to the series, but those aspects aren’t connected to them being two guys raising a child. The ridiculous stuff usually stems from the conflicting aspects of their job and caring for Miri + their general personalities.

Instead, we are getting a story that is normalizing the concept of a same-sex couple (as society would perceive them) raising a kid together. Right when there is a shitstorm going on in the Japanese government around discriminatory statements about sexual minorities by the PM, the PM’s secretary, and other politicians in PM’s political party in the past (like back in 2018).

This is kinda revolutionary by not being revolutionary at all, and just presenting everything in a realistic and normal way (in regards to the more SOL aspects, anyway). And that, in the current Japanese social and political climate surrounding LGBT+ based issues, makes it a very queer series. Even if the creators weren’t intending on that. 

And now, I am done finishing on this topic (at least for now), lol.

[heretherebedork]

A Japanese BL drama actually talking about gay marriage? And not just talking about it in the abstract sense but discussing the new legalities in their country and how it's not enough but that it's something? Y'all, I might explode.

I just wanna cheer for this show. Literally, this is the first time I can think of where a Japanese BL has discussed the legalities of gay marriage in real terms.

I love this show even more for this. @absolutebl Another country added to the 'we need gay marriage' message in their BLs discussing how what they've done is good but not far enough.

I love them so much.

And the change is in Shiro and we love that even more, let's be honest.

[politijohn]

Source

Excellent

[offonaherosjourney]

At some point Kazuki is going to vent to a mom from daycare about how hard parenting is and how he wished Rei helped more around the house and the woman is going to nod understandingly and ask Kazuki how long he and Rei have been married and Kazuki is going to give her a puzzled look and say "married? we're not even dating??", and that woman is going to laugh because haha turns out that Kazuki the failed stand-up comedian does have some good jokes after all.

[thinkingfandoms]

i recently find out that when in the manga they said "Oikawa is naturalized as Argentine" is bc Japan doesn't allow multiple nationality, so Oikawa legitimately throw away his past self to be able to make his dream come true

and it is sad, of course, but the only thing i can think about right now is that IWAOI CAN GET MARRIED bc in Argentina same-sex marriage is legalized

[lgbtpopcult]

Japan court rules ban on same-sex marriage is ‘unconstitutional’ | LGBTQ News | Al Jazeera

Let's go

[breezypunk]

Rest of the photostory under the cut ♥︎

“A soulmate will never leave you. They will always be apart of your life until one day the chance is given for them to become your life. It is then you will become one.” ― Faye Hall

[ravelqueen]

KaiShin being cousins is whatever because it doesn't add any spice to it that isn't eclipsed by the spice of detective/thief

Weird puriteens losing their shit over it though? Hilarious, absolutely amazing.

They didn't even grow up together, they have none of the "guilt over wanting to fuck someone you grew up with as family" or anything and it's not like it's gonna impact some kids genetics lol

How were you shipping those two anyway if your incest squick is that self debilitating, their designs make this pairing almost functionally self cest.

Anyway please send me your Kaishin djs/ fic recs im suddenly invested