I have never met a Japanese man who did not want me to be his mommy.

Monday 08th September, 06:26 AM JST

Takako Katayama, 37. She has her own apartment in Tokyo, a good job and a network of friends and family, and feels under no pressure to marry. (Washington Post)

Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

medievaltimes at 05:55 PM JST - 8th September

I've never seen her or met her...but I have an instant attraction to her now. I wish there were more Japanese women that shared her truth.
rurika at 08:29 PM JST - 8th September

Having children is a lifestyle choice. More and more people, married or otherwise, are realizing that it isn't the right choice for them. Declining birth rates may be damaging to the economy of Japan (and many other countries) but globally this is a positive thing in a critically overpopulated world.

Single people can have a wide circle of friends and a busy and enjoyable social life. I'm sure there are some lonely ones too but this lady certainly isn't one of them. Achieving your own dreams and goals beats being treated like a domestic servant.
Schoolboyerror at 09:19 PM JST - 8th September

Good on her. Once she reaches the inevitable glass ceiling for women in whatever her job is, hopefully her eigo will be up to scratch and she can get a transfer to the US. Then she might meet a guy who CAN operate a washing machine and walk past a gundam catalogue without picking it up.

She's spot on with her comments. I've known men here who can't go and buy a shirt without telephoning wifey to find out their own size first. Grown men!
helloklitty at 10:02 PM JST - 8th September

You go girl

Must be fun having dinner every night in your underwear standing in front of an open refrigerator door. Wow, do I envy you - not.
borscht at 10:54 PM JST - 8th September

Helloklitty,

You do that? I close the refrigerator door all by myself, and then sit in front of the TV. Softer and much better. By the way, where in this extremely short quote does it imply that she dines alone?
texashog65 at 11:08 PM JST - 8th September

This woman is a bit on the unattractive side, at least to me, that may be one reason she's been on the "single" market so long.

Most of the woman i've met in my 12 years here in Japan become a younger version of thier mother and turn into old hens rather quickly. I think her only hope to meet a man now would be a "Gaijin" man. I can say with confidence that my male Japanese friends would never consider a woman like this for a "life partner"
Alphaape at 11:21 PM JST - 8th September

My wife just came home today from work in Tokyo while I work in Yokosuka. I cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen, and have the menu prepared for tomorrow. It is not really that hard to cook a meal. I guess those formative year I spent as a teenager working in KFC and going to college and living in a Frat house where you had to cook your own meals has paid off.

I think that in some cases it is a two way street. I have to sometimes break my wife from being the "mommy" to me. I can clean and wash and cook all by myself, I don't need her for that. But, I guess it is just part of the lessons you learn while young. Yes mom will be there to clean for you, I used to love it when she did my laundry and cooked for me when I came home for school vacation or leave from the Navy, but it is nice to be a man and do things for yourself. I have been able to get many women in my single days by cooking them a full meal and showing them a clean house done all by myself then taking them out to win and dine at some resturant.

J-men, it's really easy. Put seasoning on the raw meat then put it in a frying pan, cook it slowly until it is brown on the inside and outside. There is dinner, done in 15min.
usaexpat at 11:31 PM JST - 8th September

What kind of men is she meeting exactly. Apparently she has been dating weak men, maybe get out of Tokyo and expand your horizons.
electric2004 at 12:43 AM JST - 9th September

Packy: Thanks for the link to the video. Indeed, she looks more like 47 than 37 years old. And also it looks like she is past her "best use before" date.
Eizenhauer at 01:45 AM JST - 9th September

Holly mother!! Have you guys seen this total waste of a woman? Her life philosophy, attitude, intelligence,...and her below average looks (to put it mildly) are certainly keeping men far away from her. Gosh, you guys gotta check this old looking mama kind of "girl" and then you can make your own conclusions. Her video is here (thanks packy): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082703194.html
Daniel_Basso at 05:12 AM JST - 9th September

How strange...I thought they liked pretty,young-looking,skinny,pleasing and docile women. "Girly" instead of "mommy". But she doen't seem to fit in any of those feautures though...
Canukle at 10:58 AM JST - 9th September

Wow it seems like a lot of guys here are really coming down hard on this woman who in the very short quote from above really doesnt mention anything about angsting for amanto fulfil her. Different strokes people. I totally agree if you cant find a real partner in a marriage then its just not worth it. Dont settle, get what you want and deserve. For men who put down women who dont want to be housewives, well thats a very narrow view you have there, I hope that if you have daughters they learn that they dont have to measure their worth as a woman or person by how well they prepare dinner or wash thier mans clothing.
bushlover at 04:28 PM JST - 9th September

Let her fill her boots. Who cares if she doesn't want to have kids yet. I certainly don't. I wouldn't want a dependent useless appendage as a partner either.
electric2004 at 12:16 AM JST - 10th September

Let's read her quote again:

I have never met a Japanese man who did not want me to be his mommy.

Basically, she is right. By the way she acts, it looks like she will not be a lover. Then, what remains, is - yes - the Mommy role. Simple as that.
Blue_Tiger at 07:17 AM JST - 10th September

I'll say this to contrast this woman: Married life kicks single life in the teeth!