Marital expectations help ensure singles ranks soar
Japan Times
She's a 38-year-old Tokyo working woman, enjoys single life, drives a sports car and dines at gourmet restaurants.
But her life might have been different if she had married in her late 20s.
"My boyfriend was transferred overseas (by his firm)," said the woman, who lives alone and holds a managerial-track position at a major automotive company.
"I didn't want to quit my company (to marry him) because I was being assigned more responsible tasks and getting into my job."
But this may change, she said, if by her early 40s she finds the "appropriate man" -- one who is financially stable and shares similar values -- so she can have children. She even added that finding a partner when she turns 60 may also be acceptable.
...snip...
For people seeking to wed, experts had one tip: Lower your expectations.
"Many (unmarried) women are looking for just a few men with high incomes . . . and each thinks they can win this lottery," said Yamada of Tokyo Gakugei University.
Ueno, however, said people who are more open to the idea of an equal partnership in marriage -- cooperating in making a living, housekeeping and child-rearing -- may have a better chance of tying the knot.
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