International Marriages in Japan: A Prefecture-Level Analysis

Keywords

intermarriage, rural areas, sex ratio, women, prefectures, wives, husbands, arranged marriage

Abstract

There is one form of intermarriage in Japan that is rarely addressed: Japanese men who marry women from Southeast Asian countries. In this paper, we explore macro-level influences—sex ratios, proximity to Tokyo and Osaka, and rural/urban differences—on the prevalence of intermarriage among Japanese. Using prefecture-level data, we find that the prevalence of intermarriage among Japanese men and Southeast Asian women is higher in areas that have lower ratio of young women to young men, but this is most pronounced in rural areas. International marriages in Japan, especially those in rural areas, are likely influenced by the distribution of foreign workers and the increasing frequency of arranged international marriages.

Original Publication Citation

Morgan, Charlie V., and John P. Hoffmann. 2007. “International Marriages in Japan: A Prefecture-Level Analysis.” International Journal of Sociology of the Family 33(1): 157-182.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2007

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6726

Publisher

International Journal of Sociology of the Family

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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