Japanese family structure

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The family in Japan is called “ie” in Japanese. It is basically composed of a couple as is the family in other societies. The Japanese family is based on a line of descent. Ancestors and offspring are linked together by an idea of family genealogy, or keifu, which does not mean relationships based on mere blood inheritance and succession, but rather a bond of relationship inherent in the maintenance and continuance of the family as an institution. In any given period of history, all family members have been expected to contribute to the perpetuation of the family, which is held to be the highest duty of the member (Ariga, 1954).

[edit] Members

The monogamous and patriarchal family has been prevalent since the 8th century. If a wife were childless the husband often kept a concubine, whose offspring succeeded to the headship of the family, thus securing its continuation. When neither wife nor concubine bore him a child, custom allowed the family head to adopt a successor (Ariga, 1954).

Family members may die under know circumstances (1) persons socially recognized as being related in the family line, chokkei, in which successors, their spouses and possible successors are included, and (2) members socially recognized as being outside family members, bokei, under which all other family members, including relatives and servants, are grouped (Ariga, 1954).

[edit] Succession

One male offspring who is to succeed to the headship of the family lives with his parents after his marriage. He assumes the headship and has to take care of the parents when they have become aged. In addition, he is responsible for the support of bokei member and directs the labor of family members in the management of the household. Couples in successive generations live together under the same roof (Ariga, 1954).

Succession in the Japanese family does not simply mean inheritance of the deceased’s property; and the inheritance of property itself has a distinctive meaning, which reflects the institutional demands of the family. Succession in Japan means katokusozoku, or succession to family headship.

Katokusozoku aims to achieve directly the continuation of the family as an institution. The patriarch, responsible for family continuation, has to decide in advance who is the man to succeed him in the event of his death. He usually selects a certain son as the candidate for his successor. When he has no offspring at all, the patriarch often adopts both a boy as his successor and a girl as the successor’s wife. In adoption, it does not matter whether or not the boy and the girl concerned have blood relationship with the patriarch or with his wife (Ariga, 1954).

The traditional ideal of the “ie” system designates the oldest son as an heir to the family, and expects his family to live with his parents. When the oldest son is not available or not able to assume this position, one of the younger sons may do so. The elderly parents may opt for living with one of their married daughters, usually when they have no available son. Implied here is a sex/age hierarchy in terms of living with the parents, descending from oldest son to youngest son, oldest youngest daughter. It thus can be expected that oldest sons and oldest daughters without brothers are more likely to live with their parents than other children (Kamo, 1990). USUK

[edit] References

  • Ariga, K. (1954),The Family in Japan.Marriage and Family Living, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 362-368
  • Kamo, Y. (1990),Husbands and Wives Living in Nuclear and Stem Family Households in Japan. Sociological Perspectives, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 397-417
  • Kitaoji, H. (1971),The Structure of the Japanese Family.American Anthropologist, Vol. 73, No. 5, pp. 1036-1057
  • Johnson, E. (1964),The Stem Family and Its Extension in Present Day Japan.American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 66, No. 4, Part 1, pp. 839-851
  • Koyano, S. (1964),Changing Family Behavior in Four Japanese Communities.Journal of Marriage and the Family, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 149-159
  • Spencer, R. F.; Imamura, K. (1950),Notes on the Japanese Kinship System.Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 165-173
  • Takakusu, J. (1906),The Social and Ethical Value of the Family System in Japan.International Journal of Ethics, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 100-106
  • Wilkinson, T.O. (Oct., 1962),Family Structure and Industrialization in Japan.American Sociological Review, Vol. 27, No. 5, pp. 678-682