Do you know what the change in how families in Japan is structured has lead to a boom in seasonal allergies?

“How can this possibly be related?” You are wondering.

That’s what we’re going to explore in this edition.

Main types of family structures

There are many different family structures throughout the world. Too many to list them all but the 2 main structures are:

• Authoritarian family: The head of the family has significant authority over everyone in the family, even after children get married and including children-in-law. The eldest son often takes over this role when the head passes away.

• Nuclear family: It's a relatively small unit, typically including only the parents and their unmarried children living in the same household. Once children marry or move out, they're generally considered to have started their own nuclear family.

Origins of the nuclear family

Its origin comes from Christianity.

The Church didn’t like how the head of the family had so much power and it wanted that power over families to itself.

So they banned marriage within families.

Yes, that’s why we’re so disgusted with incest.

Probably also why Japanese “culture” has so much more incest than us.

The change to what we know today as nuclear family happened very slowly though and was only accelerated with urbanization and industrialization.

It happened faster in the US because settlers had to leave their extended family behind.

Origins of the authoritarian family in Japan

Some say Japan was a matriarchy in the before the 7th century.

And while there’s evidence that women held significant roles in society and family, calling it a matriarchy is probably too much.

Starting in the 7th century — influenced by Chinese Confucian ideals — a shift to a more patriarchal system occurred.

This led to a more rigid family structure with male heads of household wielding significant power.

This evolution culminated in the “ie” (家 meaning “household”) system, legally formalized during the Meiji Era (1868-1912).

The “ie” was a patriarchal family system headed by the eldest male, emphasizing family lineage and continuity.

It formed the basis of Japanese society until after World War II, and its influence can still be seen in modern Japan.

Shift to the nuclear family and its consequences

This shift from multi-generational households began with industrialization and urbanization in the post-war period.

As Japan's economy boomed, more people moved to cities for work. Small apartments became the norm, making it impractical for extended families to live together.

Government policies also encouraged this shift, promoting individual home ownership and nuclear family units.

There is still a higher prevalence of multi-generational households compared to many Western countries though.

About 40.7% of Japanese households have someone aged 65 or over, often living with their adult children.

Consequence #1: Rise of seasonal allergies

So let’s understand why the shift to nuclear families increased seasonal allergies.

As more houses were needed for smaller family units, there was a massive reforestation effort.

The destruction from the war also required to rebuild a lot of houses.

They needed a lot of wood quickly and decided to plant Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) due to its fast growth.

However, this tree produces large amounts of highly allergenic pollen, leading to widespread allergies decades later.

Consequence #2: Lack of filial piety

Now that families don’t leave together, they also feel less obligated to help their parents, and it creates a lack of filial piety.

For non-native English speakers: filial piety is the virtue of exhibiting love and respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors, particularly within the context of Confucian, Chinese Buddhist, and Daoist ethics.

It’s one of the reasons of the growing elderly care crisis in Japan.

With fewer children living near their aging parents, the burden of care often falls on the government or paid caregivers.

This shift has also contributed to feelings of isolation among the elderly and a breakdown of traditional family support systems.

Consequence #3: Koseki and international marriages

The koseki (戸籍 meaning family registry) system, a remnant of the traditional family structure, does create complications for international marriages:

• It's difficult to register non-Japanese spouses properly.

• Children from international marriages may face issues with citizenship because this system assumes both parents are Japanese.

• Divorce proceedings can be more complicated because this system doesn't easily recognize foreign divorce decrees.

It can become a bureaucratic nightmare that highlights how deeply ingrained the traditional family structure remains in Japanese law and society.

Consequence #4: Evolving gender roles

As families become smaller and more isolated, traditional gender roles are shifting.

In nuclear families, there's often a more equal division of household responsibilities between partners.

This change is gradual but significant, challenging long-held notions about men's and women's roles in the home and society.

Consequence #5: Declining birth rate and increased demand for childcare

The shift to nuclear families has contributed to Japan's declining birth rate.

With less family support and higher living costs in urban areas, couples are having fewer children.

This, coupled with more women entering the workforce, has led to a surge in demand for daycare services.

The government is now struggling to provide enough childcare facilities to meet this growing need.

Consequence #6: Changing marriage patterns

The move towards nuclear families has influenced marriage patterns in Japan.

Young adults, enjoying increased independence, are choosing to marry later in life or not at all.

This trend is further exacerbating the low birth rate and changing the social fabric of the country.

Consequence #7: Economic implications

The shift to nuclear families has wide-reaching economic consequences.

There's an increased demand for services traditionally provided by family members, such as elderly care and childcare as we’ve seen above.

This has created new industries and job opportunities, but also placed additional financial burdens on families and the government.

Moreover, as young adults move out earlier for work or education, and local communities become less interconnected, there's a noticeable impact on local economies and social structures.

This shift is reshaping everything from real estate markets to community-based businesses and services.

Consequence #8: Decline of ancient family businesses

Japan is famous for having the oldest businesses in the world.

And that’s because of the traditional family structure as these businesses often rely on traditional craftsmanship and family secrets passed down through generations.

But the change in the structure means many lack successors as younger generations pursue different career paths.

Their decline represents a loss of cultural heritage and unique skills.

Some businesses are adapting by adopting non-family successors or merging with larger companies to survive.

Going further

Weekly Digest