in the first half of the 20th century,the Japaness family was much more "traditional" than the typical American family. Young couple didn't even use to date ; in other words, they didn't go out together as couples. Instead , they had arranged marriages - their parents chose their husband and wife. Maybe the couple fell in love after they got married, and maybe they did't. Either way, the wife had children and stayed home whit them while the husband supported the family financially. Often the husband and wife and their children lived in and extended family situation- three generations in one crowed house. Today, life in Japan is similar to that of many other industrialized countries in that women work outside the home and young people choose their own mates.