A unique marital arrangement known as the “weekend marriage” has become increasingly popular in Japan. This innovative approach to married life involves couples living separately and meeting only a few days a week, allowing them to prioritize their careers while maintaining the freshness of their relationship. Termed “separation marriages” or “shumatsukon” in Japanese, these weekend marriages came under the spotlight in a BBC News video. The video featured the Takeda family, who have successfully embraced this unconventional lifestyle, despite having a toddler.
The Takeda couple lives an hour apart, meeting only two or three times a week. Their reasons for this unique arrangement are rooted in their distinct daily routines. Hiromi, a fitness gym owner and instructor, starts her day at 4 am, while Hidekazu, a business consultant, begins his day at 7 am.
Hidekazu shared his perspective with the BBC, explaining that his differing daily routine made him feel guilty for lounging around the house while his wife managed household chores and her business. Hiromi, on the other hand, felt that sharing the same house with her husband might lead to stress and a loss of personal freedom.
According to the Japanese lifestyle website Domani, the positive side of this arrangement is that it allows couples to prioritize their careers and maintain the freshness of their relationship. However, there are potential cons, including the financial burden, as each spouse is responsible for their own expenses, and communication challenges often arise due to limited face-to-face interaction.
The reception to weekend marriages among the Japanese population remains diverse, largely influenced by traditional gender roles. Hiromi and Hidekazu have received mixed reactions to their decision to opt for this type of marriage arrangement. According to a survey, 86.7% of women in their 20s and 30s were familiar with the term, while only 23.3% of men in the same age group were aware of it.
The rise of weekend marriages reflects broader societal changes in Japan, where the number of dual-income households has been steadily increasing. Data from the ministry of internal affairs and communications in Japan reveal that such households surpassed those with a non-employed wife in 2000, reaching 64% in 2017. This shift towards the concept of weekend marriages has been attributed to the growing participation of women in the labor market, signaling a significant shift in traditional family dynamics.
