With the majority of the foreigners on extended stays in Japan being male, and more Japanese women than men having a strong interest in languages and cultures other than their own, it’s natural that the most common international pairing for Japanese nationals is a Japanese woman and foreign man.
Of course, every society has its attractive and unattractive aspects, which Japanese women revealed by sharing both the things about their foreign boyfriends and husbands that thrilled them, as well as the less pleasant parts of the package deal of a romantic partner.
Given the relatively small foreign population in Japan, one could draw the conclusion that women with a beau from overseas first had to pass on romantic opportunities with their own countrymen. A poll by Japanese website Nico Video produced the following reasons why some Japanese women weren’t interested in domestic men.
1. No concept of chivalry – 48.3 percent
2. Don’t express affection – 43 percent
3. Don’t take initiative – 24.7 percent
4. Don’t say nice things about their girlfriends in front of others – 17.6 percent
5. Don’t have a good body – 14.5 percent
It wasn’t all bad news as far as Japanese men were concerned, though. There’s a lot to be said for the comfort and unspoken understanding that can come from a common background, as one woman explained.
“When I get married, I want to quit my job and be a housewife. I think women who have those kinds of domestic ambitions are better off with a Japanese guy, since that pattern’s been the norm for Japanese couples for so long.”
She wasn’t the only one to cite the advantages of home life with a Japanese husband.
“Japanese guys don’t have much to say about how to decorate the house, so most of the time the woman gets to make the decisions. The man usually picks up the tab for the interior decorating, too.”