"Showa: When Marriage Was Possible Without Romance" and "Reiwa: When Both Romance and Marriage Have Become Difficult"—Understanding the Shape of Marriage in Japan Compared to Overseas

Introduction—What Lies Between "Can" and "Cannot"

In Showa-era Japan (1926–1989), romance was something that was "nice to have" but not necessary for marriage. This was because families and workplace networks, through matchmakers, arranged conditions and socialized the process leading up to marriage registration. In the current Reiwa era, the weight has shifted more towards marriage being driven solely by "individual romance and self-determination." However, the rarity of encounters, economic uncertainty, and institutional rigidity have made both romance and marriage difficult to realize. This is the source of the feeling that "it was possible in Showa, but difficult in Reiwa."

1. Standard Features of Showa: Matchmakers, Companies, and Families

1-1 The Socialization of Arrangements Created by Matchmaking

In 1930s Japan, approximately **69% of marriages were arranged. This high ratio persisted long after the war, declining to 5.2%** by 2015. The decline of arranged marriages symbolizes the shift towards marriages based on romance.Nippon

1-2 "Matching" by Companies and Local Communities

In the Showa era, workplace, local, and familial bonds were strong. Company housing, workplace gatherings, and local events provided ample opportunities for spontaneous encounters and third-party mediation. The Showa "standard family model (salaried husband + housewife)" and lifetime employment also encouraged early marriages among the younger generation (detailed data in later chapters).

2. The Reality of Reiwa: Encounters Have Become Visible, but Marriage Has Become Distant

2-1 Changes in the Number of Marriages and Age at First Marriage

The number of marriages in Japan was 474,741 in 2023, the lowest since the war, and 485,063 in 2024. The average age at first marriage has risen to **31.1 years for men and 29.8 years for women (2024)**. The trend of later marriages and non-marriage continues.Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare+2Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare+2

2-2 The Narrowing of "Dating Experience" Among Young People

According to a 2021 survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (IPSS), 60.0% of unmarried men and 64.8% of unmarried women aged 18–34 have dating experience. Conversely, about 40% of men and 35% of women have no dating experience. Although the desire to marry remains high (the percentage of women who "intend to marry eventually" decreased from 89.3% in 2015 to 84.3% in 2021), the rarity of encounters is a bottleneck.IPSS+1

2-3 The Drastic Change in "Where to Meet"

The places for meeting have shifted from the Showa era's "workplace, relatives, matchmakers" to Reiwa's "apps, social media, hobby communities." IPSS reports that the proportion of workplace encounters has decreased, with **15.1% of recent relationships starting via internet services**.IPSS

2-4 Government and Municipalities Also Publicly Support "Matching"

Tokyo has launched an official marriage-hunting app utilizing AI matching, and the government is promoting the digitalization of marriage support. The move by the public sector to supplement the "infrastructure for encounters" can be seen as a public update of the matchmaking culture.Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation+1

3. Differences with Overseas—The Equation of "Romance, Cohabitation, Childbirth, and Marriage"

3-1 The Generalization of Extramarital Births and Cohabitation

In the OECD average, over 40% of births are extramarital. In Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, the rate of extramarital births is extremely low at **2–3%**, making it difficult for romance or cohabitation to serve as "substitutes for marriage." As a result, the phenomenon of "even if romance is possible, the barrier to marriage registration is high" tends to occur.OECD WebFS

3-2 Trends in Neighboring and Advanced Countries

South Korea has experienced a long-term decline in marriages and ultra-low birth rates, more severe than Japan, but saw an increase in marriages in 2023 for the first time in 11 years, with signs of further increase in 2024. However, extramarital births remain rare, and housing prices and long working hours are barriers. In Europe, common-law marriages have become established, with diverse routes such as romance → cohabitation → childbirth → (if necessary) marriage being institutionally supported.Reuters+2TIME+2

4. The "Cost of Marriage Registration" Brought by Japan's Systems and Practices

4-1 Japan's Unique System of Mandatory Same-Surname for Married Couples

Japan is the only country in the world where, under Article 750 of the Civil Code, married couples must choose the same surname (in practice, about 95% take the husband's surname). The Supreme Court upheld the system in 2015 and 2021. Internationally, allowing different surnames is mainstream, and surveys show that a majority in Japan support the introduction of different surnames.Asahi Shimbun+3ABC+3Harvard Law Review+3

4-2 The Impact of the Tax System (Spousal Deduction and Special Spousal Deduction)

The spousal deduction and special spousal deduction have long been debated as incentives that could suppress the employment of the second earner (often the wife) within a specific income range. Although the system is being updated, the remnants of a tax system optimized for "marriage + full-time housewife or part-time work" complicate household planning and marriage decision-making.National Tax Agency+2National Tax Agency+2

4-3 Work Styles and Household Anxiety

The 2019 "Work Style Reform" introduced **overtime limits (720 hours per year, less than 100 hours per month, less than 80 hours average over 2–6 months)**, but the stagnation of disposable income for the younger generation, the high ratio of non-regular employment, and the burden of urban housing costs still weigh heavily, making economic planning for marriage and childbirth difficult.Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

5. Why Reiwa Feels "Difficult for Both Romance and Marriage" (Logic Tree)

1. Encounter Costs: The reduction of spontaneous encounters at work and in the community, along with increased respect for privacy and strengthened harassment norms, have raised the hurdles for "workplace romance." → Even though the digital transition has increased the population, the learning costs of matching, selection, and communication have increased.IPSS

2. Consensus Formation Costs: The diversification of values has increased the number of items to coordinate, such as cohabitation, division of household chores and childcare, surnames, and careers. The obligation for married couples to have the same surname can also become a "difficult point" in decision-making.ABC

3. Living Costs: Wage and employment uncertainties, housing costs in the metropolitan area, childcare and education expenses, and the conceptual gravity of long working hours lower the expected utility of marriage and childbirth.Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

4. Lack of Institutional Alternatives: The low tolerance and institutional support for extramarital children and common-law marriages mean that rights are not easily guaranteed without "marriage registration". As a result, if one stumbles at any stage of romance → cohabitation → childbirth, the entire process can come to a halt.OECD WebFS

6. Nonetheless, There Are Seeds of Progress

• Dating via Apps has reached a certain percentage (15.1%). Public support is also expanding, and the public update of matchmaking is underway.IPSS+1

• The Desire to Marry Among Unmarried Individuals remains high (noting the downward trend). There is significant room for "redesigning opportunities" to be effective.IPSS

• ##HTML