In a custom that can surprise many people, a significant part of married men in one of the world’s most visited countries gives their wages to their wife and receives, in return, a allowance for personal expenses. It is a family model still widely practiced, even in a context of social and work modernization.
According to data cited by the BBC, this reality is observed in Japan, where about 74% of married men deliver all their salary to women monthly. In many Japanese homes, it is the wife who takes over the home budget, paying bills, controlling spending and distributing a fixed allowance to her husband, a practice known locally as Okozukai.
A practice with historical roots
This division of responsibilities dates back to the post-World War period, when Japan began a phase of rapid economic growth. The men spent long hours away from home, concentrated at work, while women took on full control of family expenses.
According to the same source, this model has consolidated itself and is still common today, especially among couples with children.
In practice, the salary is deposited in the wife’s joint or personal account, which organizes regular payments and sets a monthly amount for her husband to use freely. In many cases, this amount is around 30,000 yen, about 173.70 euros.
The logic behind this system is the rigor in the management of family finance. According to the same source, many Japanese women are seen as spared and organized, and it is usual to maintain detailed records of expenses in specific notebooks called kakeibo. This habit helps control the monthly budget and allows you to identify areas where it is possible to cut costs.
Current reality and trends
Despite being a prevalent practice, there are signs of change. In recent years, especially among younger or double-income couples, there has been a greater sharing of financial responsibility. Still the exclusive management by women remains a reality in many Japanese homes.
Some husbands say they appreciate the fact that they do not have to worry about accounts or budgets. Others, however, reveal frustration for the reduced value of the allowance and the lack of autonomy in financial decision making.
There are even reports of men trying to negotiate an increase in the monthly allowance or resort to extra jobs to reinforce their personal income.
The same source realizes that this marital dynamics are often addressed in the Japanese press, with articles and debates on the balance between trust, tradition and financial independence. In television magazines and programs, it is common to emerge suggestions to improve communication between spouses regarding money management.
We recommend:
A cultural system that raises questions
For many Westerners, this practice may seem unusual, but in Japan it is viewed as part of an organized and functional family structure. It is not, according to the same source, of submission or imposition, but before a division of papers that has been built over decades, based on trust and functionality.
Even among couples who follow this model, there is a growing appreciation of transparency and dialogue. Some men state that, despite delivering salary, they have access to accounts and participate in more important decisions such as savings, investments or higher value purchases.
However, the idea remains that financial control should be in the hands of the person considered more able to manage him and in many cases that person remains his wife. This understanding is culturally rooted and will hardly be abruptly altered even with the ongoing social changes.
In current Japan, the balance between tradition and modernity continues to define many spheres of family life. And, as in other areas, also in the management of money the weight of history and customs remain visible.
As it underlines, this practice remains a striking feature of thousands of Japanese homes, surprising those who see outside, but maintaining its logic within a culture with strong family roots.
Also read:
