in the first half of the 20th century, the japanese family was much more "traditional" than the typical American family. young couple didn't even use to date; in other words, the didn't go out togather as couuples. Instead, they had arranged marriages-their parents chose their huaband and wife. Maybe the couple fell in love after they got married,and may be they didn't. Either way, THE wife had children and stayed home with them while the husband supported the family financially. Often the husband and wife and treir children lived in an extended family situation-three generations in one crowded house. Today, life in japan is similar to that of many other industrialized countries in the woman work outside the home and young people choose their own mates