Will the issue of separate surnames for married couples change the concept of family in Japan?The issue is not gender equality but the concept of ``home'' that is unique to Japan.
2021-11-04
Category:Japanese culture
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Is it gender discrimination for married couples to have the same surname
The issue of selective marital separation has recently become a hot topic in Japan. Japan is the only country in the world that has a family registration system that stipulates husband and wife status by law.
A growing number of people are arguing that this is gender discrimination and that it is acceptable for couples to have different surnames. The origin of the problem is that when a woman gets married, she usually takes the man's surname, so it is difficult to use her maiden name at work, or to change information in social procedures, banking, and various other contracts.
However, it is logically incorrect to view this as gender discrimination. This is because under the current law, equality is guaranteed because the surname must be chosen from either a man or a woman. The question becomes what it means for a husband and wife to use the same surname.
The concept of the traditional Japanese house
In Japan, the concept of family has been around since ancient times, and when you get married, you move into a family. A married woman moves into a man's house and becomes part of his family. There is a cultural background that makes her a member of the family, including her ancestors. The child born there will take the family name of that family. Uji means belonging to the same group, and dates back to the surname system in ancient times.
Japanese people are taught to respect the concept of home and to act in a way that lives up to the name of home. A family crest is a symbol of a family.
In the West, the idea seems to be a little different. Children seem to think that they belong to both the father's and mother's families. In this case, there are four grandfathers and grandmothers, and they belong to the four people. I wonder if the next idea will be to belong to eight people. If you go back in time, you will belong to 100 people.
In other words, the way of thinking about Japanese houses is completely different. In Japan, people search for their ancestors by tracing one family line. In this respect, the opinion that we should refer to Western countries seems to be a rather wild opinion.
Symbol of Japanese house
Japan has the imperial family as a symbol of the family. The issue of separate family names for married couples and the issue of male lineage inheritance seem to be unrelated, but they are closely related.
The imperial family has stubbornly protected the traditional Japanese concept of home. Joining the imperial family means joining the imperial family. As a unique entity, the imperial family does not have a clan. When a male member of the imperial family marries, the woman he marries loses his family name.
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This is stipulated in the Imperial House Law, but when a female member of the imperial family marries and becomes a commoner, like Her Imperial Highness Princess Mako, or a former female member of the imperial family says she does not want to take her husband's name, she is considered a commoner. If current laws are followed, will women remain members of the imperial family? Or will they live a normal life without having a surname?
Can we discuss the family system apart from the imperial family
The Liberal Democratic Party is reluctant to promote separate marriages. This is also because we see it as a problem not with gender equality, but with Japan's unique cultural background and the concept of the Japanese home, which is the foundation of society. Japan has an imperial family that has been connected uninterrupted since recorded history, unlike any other country in the world. Japan has a history of following this model of inheritance.
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[related article]
The Rose of Versailles is a Japanese work that was a big hit in Western Europe - Lady Oscar in France.
Beautiful Oscar in male clothing
A fictional story that doesn't exist
The Rose of Versailles became very popular in Europe
The royal family was the axis of opposition to democracy
Japanese culture focuses on the enemy
Former President Moon Jae-in says South Korea started the French Revolution
The Rose of Versailles is a manga that was serialized from 1972 to 1973. It was adapted into a stage play by the Takarazuka Revue Company and became a big hit, attracting attention and being made into an anime. The story takes place on the eve of the French Revolution. The main character, Oscar, is a woman, and as a beautiful woman dressed as a man, she is beautiful and strong, and is as good as any man. She later serves as the commander of Marie Antoinette's bodyguard when she is executed.
This is a work that frankly depicts his relationship with Andre, a man who is in love with Oscar, and his personal and romantic relationship with Marie Antoinette, who is protected by Oscar. What is surprising is that the main characters Oscar and Andre in the worldview of this magnificent work do not actually exist.
As you know, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were publicly executed by guillotine during the French Revolution. In other words, this work depicts the French royal family, who were the enemy of the people at the time. The animated work has been broadcast in Europe and is extremely popular. Of course, it was also very popular in France.
This work was created by Japan, an island nation in the East that has little cultural or historical contact with the West. On the other hand, if a Westerner created a work depicting the Edo period, would it be appealing to Japanese people?
The French Revolution was a major event that transformed France into democracy, and had the energy to change world history. In that sense, the French royal family at the time could be said to be war criminals in World War II and Hitler in Germany.
Steven Spielberg's ``Schindler's List'' is a work that depicts the human condition from the perspective of Hitler and the Nazis. In other words, The Rose of Versailles can be said to be a magnificent piece of work that shines a spotlight on what is considered evil in history.
Why don't the Korean people, who have the highest human rights consciousness in the world, condemn works such as Schindler's List and The Rose of Versailles? The Korean people who are familiar with the Nazis and Jews should be educating the people of the world. Former President Moon Jae-in told former President Macron that ``Korea started the French Revolution'' regarding the impeachment of Park Geun-hye.
The Korean - Urinara origin theory, which always obstructs Japan's registration of cultural properties, is due to a cultural desert that does not know the meaning of culture.
South Korea always obstructs Japanese cultural property registration
Karate originated from karate, which was introduced from China
California roll is American sushi
The Gracie family, the strongest jiu-jitsu family
South Korea infuriates Thais
Korea doesn't know the meaning of culture
Japanese washi paper was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014. A problem arose at this time. They claimed that the paper-making method came from the Korean peninsula to Japan, so it belonged to Korea, they went around promoting Japan as a thief nation, and they carried out activities to prevent Japan from being registered as a cultural culture. .
The origin of Japanese paper dates back to China. The manufacturing method and quality of washi paper have evolved uniquely in Japan. It goes without saying that UNESCO registered Japanese washi paper in accordance with international common sense.
Karate is a Japanese martial art. The Chinese martial art was transmitted from China to Okinawa as karate, and in Japan it evolved in its own way and became a form of karate. This is a story that many Japanese people know. Conversely, karate does not exist in China. This is because China is developing Chinese martial arts.
There is a type of sushi in America called the California roll. It's a sushi roll made with avocado and mayonnaise. There are probably few Japanese people who think of that as sushi. Even if California Roll were to be registered as an intangible cultural heritage, I don't think there would be any Japanese people who would complain. I would rather support it.
Korea claims that Japanese culture originated in Korea. Other traditions such as samurai, geisha, tea ceremony, and judo are also said to have originated in Korea.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the practice of the Gracie family, who studied and developed Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. However, I have never seen a Japanese person claim that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Japanese. That belongs to the Gracie family.
South Korea infuriated Thais by claiming that Muay Thai in Thailand also originated from South Korea. Thai people are an ethnic group that historically lived in southern China, and we imagine that they are the origin of Chinese martial arts and Indian martial arts (there are no concrete records). However, Muay Thai is neither a Chinese nor an Indian martial art. Muay Thai is a Thai martial art and the national sport of Thailand.
In order for a culture to develop, it is necessary at least to have the imagination to imagine how many people, how much time and effort it took to develop it and establish it as the culture of that country.
This is a matter of understanding and respecting culture and tradition. In fact, because they lack such effort and experience, South Korea seems to easily claim that other countries' cultures are of their own origin.
When Koreans became enraged over China's claim that kimchi originated from Chinese foam cabbage, it sparked a controversy and was ridiculed by China as a sign of a cultural complex.
When Japan meets the king, the royal family protects the world, and Japan gathers together with the world.
Sunjong, the last emperor of the Korean Empire, lived in Changdeokgung Palace as a member of the royal family during the Japanese colonial period. When Changdeokgung Palace was destroyed in a fire, he lived in Nakseonjae, which was left over from the fire, but when asked to move to Deoksugung Palace, he reprimanded Lee Wanyo, saying, ``You can't move because it's Changdeokgung Palace, which was given to us by His Majesty the Emperor.'' did.
Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, lived in the Forbidden City during the Xinhai Revolution in exchange for his abdication. The Xinhai Revolution was a collaboration between Japan and Sun Yat-sen. At the time of the Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan, Puyi converted the treasures in the Forbidden City into gold and entrusted a large amount of donations to Kenkichi Yoshizawa. After Yuan Shikai's death, Puyi was expelled from the Forbidden City, placed under Japanese protection, and became Emperor of Manchukuo. The Qing Dynasty was an enemy country of Japan that fought in the Sino-Japanese War.
There are a small number of countries that cry out that Japan has invaded or invaded without drawing much attention to this kind of Japanese thinking. At least the former monarchs of these countries were treated respectfully and protected by Japan. China itself expelled the Qing dynasty's Ai Xinjuo Luo clan.
Izumo Taisha is a shrine that is famous both in Japan and among overseas tourists. Many tourists visit from Japan and abroad. The reason is magnificent, and the scenery is truly art itself. In the first place, Izumo Taisha Shrine was built for the god Okuninushi, who surrendered the country. This is a story from Japanese mythology.
At first in Japan, Izanagi's son Susanoo no Mikoto was banished from the heavenly world (Takamagahara) and landed on earth (Ashihara no Chugoku), where he expanded his country. Okuninushi is his descendant. In the first place, it was Amaterasu Omikami who was ordered by Izanagi to rule the earth, but in order for Amaterasu Omikami's grandson to come down to earth to create a country, he sent Takemikaraijin to earth in advance and ruled the country. Concession negotiations will take place.
Takeminakata, the second child of Ōkuninushikami, resisted and was cornered by the battle with Takemikaraijin and would not leave the province of Shinano, so he asked to be allowed to live here, and was enshrined in the province of Suwa. This is Suwa Shrine in Nagano Prefecture. As a result, Okuninushi committed suicide, saying that if he would build a palace in the country of Izumo, he would serve him from a faraway world. It is said that Izumo Taisha was built there. In response to this broken myth, he built Izumo Taisha, which still stands magnificently in modern times. There is no doubt that this is Japanese culture.
What do teachers who refuse to sing the national anthem teach children? Kimigayo is the very essence of Japanese culture that has been passed down since ancient times. ``Kimigayo'' is a tanka poem that appears in the Kokin Wakashu. In the Kokin Wakashu, it begins with ``Waga Kimi wa.'' It was put to music during the Meiji period, and officially became Japan's national anthem in 1999, when the ``Law Concerning the National Flag and Anthem'' was enacted. Until then, it had been handed down from ancient times in Japan.
Does it matter for whom Kimigayo was composed? The main idea is to pray for the eternal prosperity of the other person's life, family, and descendants, and it is important that the concept of eternity is expressed as ``until the rocks turn into rocks and become covered with moss.'' It is included in the anthology of ancient and modern waka poems because its outstanding expressiveness moved people, and it has been passed down from generation to generation. If you were not familiar with the poems in the Heian period, it is clear that they had been written and loved long before that.
It was composed at various celebratory occasions, and it no longer matters who the author wrote it for. Since the Meiji era, songs have been written about You as the Emperor, and if you value His Majesty the Emperor, who is also a symbol of the Meiji Restoration, it is no wonder that people sing it like that.
If this song exists to help us imagine and pass on the spirituality of the ancient Japanese people when they prayed for the happiness of others, what on earth should Japanese educators teach? I wonder if it is.
Japanese food culture favoring raw food - A unique food culture in the world is supported by soy sauce.
Japanese food culture of eating raw fish
Unique Japanese soy sauce
Relationship between soy sauce and raw dishes
Soy sauce creates Japanese food culture
The Japanese people are said to have a unique culture of eating raw fish, and their food culture, typified by sushi, is being introduced to the world. If you think about it carefully, even Japanese people do not eat sashimi as is. If you don't use soy sauce, the sashimi will just be fishy and dry and you won't be able to eat it, and conversely, you won't use anything other than soy sauce for sashimi. Japanese people might think that American sushi uses mayonnaise or chili sauce, which completely eliminates the flavor of the ingredients.
If you think about it that way, soy sauce exists in many Asian countries, but Japanese soy sauce is also uniquely Japanese. One of the basics of Japanese cuisine is ``sashisu seso,'' which means sugar, salt, vinegar, soy sauce, and miso. These are used as the base flavor of various Japanese dishes. Many people may have noticed the smell of soy sauce at the airport when they returned to Japan from overseas.
Soy sauce is an essential seasoning for Japanese cuisine. Japan seems to be a rare country where people eat raw eggs. What I realized is that even Japanese people do not eat raw eggs as is. You can eat it for the first time by putting it on rice and pouring soy sauce on it.
In Japan, there is a culture of eating raw vegetables. Even in the West, we eat fresh raw vegetables such as salads. On the other hand, in China there is no culture of eating raw vegetables. From a Chinese perspective, it's hard to eat raw vegetables. You may be thinking.
In any case, it can be said that the culture of eating raw fish and raw eggs was first established in Japan with soy sauce. Soy sauce is used in all Japanese cuisine to enhance the flavor of the ingredients without overpowering them. It can be said that foreigners visiting Japan are experiencing the natural flavor of fish brought out by Japanese soy sauce.
The fact that Japanese people prefer raw ingredients is actually deeply connected to the invisible seasoning called soy sauce. Conversely, Japanese soy sauce is almost always used when eating raw ingredients. On the other hand, I feel that no matter how many other seasonings you use in the world, you can't make raw fish or raw eggs delicious.