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I suspect young people today are deeply concerned about their futures because of prolonged difficulty in finding jobs and the sluggish economy, so they may wish for the home to be a source of emotiona

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Prof Kakuko Miyata of Meiji Gakuin University, referring to a survey that showed 55.7% of men in their 20s were in favor of wives staying home and doing housework, while 43.7% of women felt likewise. (Daily Yomiuri)

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while 43.7% felt likewise.

What? 43.7% of who?

So, that's what the men want. That's nice for them, and good of them to speak for their women. I winder what the men themselves want to do? And what, I wonder, do women want? as I'm sure they were asked.

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Japan remains a deeply conservative and reactionary society. Westerners want Japan to be more like them culturally, and are often disappointed or baffled by what Japanese people, including the supposedly enlightened younger generation, end up thinking or doing.

I think the 43 percent are the young women.

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Otherwise, not likewise. Please hire an editor.

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If young people would be "deeply concerned about their future", then they would have moved their a$$es on sunday and gone out to vote. 41% voted, most of them old people....

It is however true, that unlike their fathers the cosy existence of slaves, who spend18 hours every day for the master, and in return are provided for, that kind of existence will no longer be provided.

Time for Japan to enter the 20th century.

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I think the 43 percent are the young women.

It's written it's men only.

more importance to home life....emotional support

So being the sole financial support of a family in uncertain economy would help in what ? If the wife has no income, the man has to work even longer hours to maintain a family in bad economy and the worries of greater chances of having no income at all (should he lose his job) at some point surely does wonder for emotional support. In case a Mrs is professional housewife, if her paycheck not longer works, her logical reaction is to divorce and remarry another steady income. And they know that, they've seen it with their parents. The 56 % ? Obviously, they are not thinking about getting married, or not before a long time, so they'd like women to leave the work market and free more career opportunities for themselves. Nothing new.

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Maria, why are you surprised by the results? I understand your position on the issue, as you've made yourself clear before, but while I am not impressed by the results of this survey, I think it's probably pretty accurate.

At work I talk to lots of young adults about this kind of stuff, and if I had a 500yen coin for every young woman whose goal was to be a good oyomesan and take care of the house, I'd be a pretty rich person. Some even say they don't want kids. Yikes!

Overall though, the professor quoted above really has no idea what he's talking about. It's pure speculation as to the reasoning. If young guys really were worried about finding jobs(and I believe they are), they would more likely welcome another bread-winner.

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I suspect that Japanese young people are suffering under unrealistic expectations and regressing into the past rather than facing reality. Families in Japan need dual income more than ever. If one person is laid off, a very real prospect in modern Japan, the other can care for the family. Or in the most likely scenario of both being underemployed, they can support the family as a team.

This 1950s notion of wife and kids at home does not fit with the economic realities of Japan in the 21st century. What people need here is a strong dose of reality and less natsukashi (sentimental) dreaming.

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Hey there sourpuss, hope you've been having a good week.

I have actually expressed no surprise, or indeed any opinion whatsoever about the actual results.

Pre-edit, (this morning) this quote made no mention of women's opinions on this matter, it simply stated what men wanted their women to be doing. I thought that was a bit one-sided, and wondered what the women polled wanted to be doing.

Post-edit? Well, no surprises. Young men in their 20s are hoping to have the job, stability and money to be able to support a home and family, like a Real Man. Good luck to them.

Young women are less enthusiastic about this stay-at-home option. Good luck to them - I hope they take their education, independence and intelligence and run with it all!

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Hi Maria, Sorry, I missed the original edit. Not surprising about what you said, in that case. I can't help but feel that if jobs were more plentiful, the number of guys who felt women should be in the home would be even higher. I really don't think it has much to do with what the perfesser thinks at all.

It would be interesting to have this survey compared with results from other countries.

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@Cos

It's written it's men only.

No it isn't: "while 43.7% of WOMEN felt likewise."

Correctness is a virtue.

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