What is the new trend of ‘friendship marriage’?
About 124 million of Japan’s population, and each one of them stands in support of what is called a ‘friendship marriage.’ The South China Morning Post (SCMP) states that young people in China are also embracing this type of cohabitation and companionship where individuals as friends live like a married couple either residing together or having similar values and interests but outside the traditional norms of marriage.
Traditional romantic passion is not always necessary for a marriage to succeed. In this type of marriage, the parties may choose to have children through artificial insemination, not cohabit, or be lawfully married to someone else. With mutual consent, both spouses are free to have romantic relationships with other people.
To find a roommate with mutual interests and likes is one of putting it to simply explain the concept of what a friendship marriage entails.
The parties in this marriage spend time together in order to get to know one another better. They work together on a number of practical issues, such as resources, domestic chores, and financial obligations.
The average age of those interested in this type of marriage is 32.5 years old, and their income is higher than the national average. A growing number of asexuals and gays who want to eschew contentious marriage customs are following this trend.
How does a ‘friendship marriage’ work?
Couples typically spend hours or even days discussing the specifics of their future together before getting married. Subjects cover everything from routine chores like laundry and home decor to more complex tasks like meal planning and budget division.
Despite the fact that these conversations might not seem romantic, they are essential to creating harmony in the partnership. According to reports, about 80% of couples who have these kinds of conversations end up living together contentedly and frequently grow their family by having children.
Roughly 75% of Japanese people in their 30s still view marriage as a major life goal, as reported by the Japanese Cabinet Office. For some young adults who don’t believe in romantic relationships or traditional norms but are forced into them by society, friendship weddings may be an option. To impress their parents or prosper in their careers, it helps them project a “stable and mature” image.
Men and women who classify as asexual or homosexual are also drawn to this trend. Even those who are asexual—those who lack romantic attraction or sexual desire—seek company and connection. Since same-sex marriage is not recognised by law in Japan, homosexuals may see friendship marriages as an alternative.
This new practice is a way for some women to take advantage of tax benefits. In Japan, there are tax perks to marriage, and establishing a family is quite difficult for unmarried women. More than 70% of people who get married out of friendship do so in order to have kids, according to SCMP data.
Conclusion
Even though friendship weddings are still in their infancy, they are a reflection of a larger global trend among young people to explore other forms of relationships. The traditional definition of marriage is evolving, as seen by the choices made by two Singaporean women to be life partners without engaging in sexual activity and by young Chinese couples who purchase homes together as platonic “flat-mates.”
This contemporary interpretation of companionship appears set to continue gaining traction as an alternative to conventional marriage conventions, with about 1% of Japan’s population being suitable candidates for friendship marriages.
Furthermore, some homosexuals are adopting this new trend because they dislike love relationships or traditional marriage rituals and feel compelled by society to conform. Therefore, this is a concept that can continue to be adopted, especially by the youth in the society, especially when they reiterate the benefits they offer, like having access to policy perks, intimacy, and encouragement to those who feel disconnected, are against traditional marriage, or see themselves as outsiders in society.
A marriage lawyer named Zhao Li used the proverb “More than friends, less than lovers” to eloquently express friendship marriage.
