5 Things A Woman Can't Usually Do After Marriage in Japan

In many places around the world, a woman is expected to change several aspects about herself – from her hairstyle to her wardrobe – to signify her transition to married life. These are five things a young woman may not be able to do after marriage in Japan.
Wear Furisode
Furisode are very formal, elaborate, long-sleeved kimono typically worn for Coming of Age Day ceremonies. They can also be worn by young, unmarried women for other social engagements that call for a degree of formality, such as attending weddings and tea ceremonies. Since they signal a woman is both unmarried and of marriageable age, a married woman should never wear furisode.

Stay Childless
There is huge social pressure for couples to have children very quickly after marrying. Many believe that this is part of the reason more and more Japanese (especially women) are delaying marriage into their thirties – it’s actually in order to delay parenthood. Only 2% of children in Japan are born out of wedlock, compared to over 40% in America and the UK. In Japan, marriage and children go hand in hand.

Continue Working
Many Japanese are attached to the idea of the traditional family unit. The father works and provides for the family, and his wife cares for him, the home, and the children. Even if her new husband doesn’t ask her to quit her job, a new Japanese wife might find it too difficult to cope with work while doing the lion’s share, if not all, of the cooking, cleaning, and childrearing while at home. But these attitudes are changing as more and more women enter the workforce, and society changes to accommodate them.

Hyphenate Her Name
For women in patriarchal societies everywhere, holding onto a maiden name or simply tacking on a hyphen is a relatively new phenomenon. But in Japan, this is not even an option. While the law doesn’t require that the woman be the one to change her name, the Civil Code of Japan does require married couples to share the same last name, and so over 95% of married women in Japan choose to take the husband’s surname.
Keep Her Style
Japanese women are encouraged to tone down their hair and makeup as they become wives and mothers, as well as their sense of style. Most of the time it’s a natural progression, too, since people’s tastes change and develop naturally as they age. This includes traditional kimono and yukata styles as well – the older a woman gets, the more refined and simple her kimono styles become.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.