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In Japan, a unique trend called ‘friendship marriage’ is revolutionising traditional notions of partnership. This innovative relationship model allows individuals to enter legal marriages without romantic love or sexual involvement, focusing instead on shared values and companionship. Discover how this trend is reshaping relationships across Japan.
Why Friendship Marriages are the talk of Japan’s relationship scene | Canva
New Delhi: A novel relationship trend known as ‘friendship marriage’ is rapidly gaining traction in Japan among a diverse group of individuals, including asexual people, homosexuals, and heterosexuals. Unlike traditional marriages, friendship marriages are founded on shared values and interests rather than romantic love or sexual attraction.
How does Friendship Marriage work?
In a friendship marriage, partners are legally recognised as spouses but maintain a platonic relationship. They can live together, form relationships with other people, and even start families through methods such as artificial insemination if they choose. Essentially, a friendship marriage is akin to finding a roommate who shares your interests and values.
Couples in friendship marriages collaboratively decide on various aspects of their household, from splitting expenses and dividing chores to managing shared spaces like the refrigerator. The arrangement allows for significant flexibility and personal freedom.
Who is Choosing Friendship Marriage?
This emerging trend appeals particularly to younger generations in Japan who are seeking alternatives to conventional marriage. Friendship marriage does not necessitate mutual romantic feelings or physical intimacy, making it an attractive option for those who prefer a non-traditional approach to partnership.
The trend is increasingly popular, with over 120 million people in Japan exploring this relationship model. It encompasses individuals from various backgrounds, including asexual, homosexual, and heterosexual people, who are moving away from traditional marriage structures.
Since 2015, an agency called Colorus has reported that around 500 people have entered into friendship marriages, creating households and raising children within this framework. Although the arrangement excludes traditional romantic or sexual engagement, it allows for polygamous relationships and romantic involvement with others, provided there is mutual consent.
Colorus notes that couples usually spend considerable time discussing and agreeing on the details of their life together, such as managing meals, finances, and household duties. One participant described friendship marriage as “like finding a roommate with similar interests,” while another expressed that they were better suited to a platonic relationship but enjoyed the companionship and shared experiences this arrangement offers.
People with incomes exceeding the national average are particularly drawn to friendship marriage, with many asexual or homosexual individuals favouring it for its focus on companionship over traditional physical or romantic needs. As marriage lawyer Zhao Li aptly summarised, friendship marriage is “more than friends, less than lovers.”
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