News and Relationship advice: Japan’s spouse hunters hone skills at marriage school

“Reuters – Friday, March 12
By Toshi Maeda
TOKYO – In search of Mr. or Mrs. Right, dozens of Japanese are attending a newly launched school in Tokyo that aims to turn them into marriage material.

The Infini school offers various classes for wannabe brides and grooms at a time when many people in Japan are either shunning [...]


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“Reuters – Friday, March 12

By Toshi Maeda

TOKYO – In search of Mr. or Mrs. Right, dozens of Japanese are attending a newly launched school in Tokyo that aims to turn them into marriage material.



The Infini school offers various classes for wannabe brides and grooms at a time when many people in Japan are either shunning the institution of marriage or are finding it very difficult to hook up with a partner.

The school, which is open to men and women, teaches students how to talk, walk and present themselves elegantly in a bid to capture the hearts and minds of prospective partners and their parents, who are often a major obstacle to successful unions.

Infini, which opened last month, now has about 30 female students. An almost equal number of males has signed up, but those who actually turn up to class are much fewer than their female counterparts.

“I had never even thought that my boyfriend’s mother could play such a big role in my relationship, but now I’ve realized I need to start thinking seriously about how to impress my future in-laws,” said Kozue Sugawara, 29, who joined the school after her previous marriage plans failed.

With women wielding increased economic clout and changing social attitudes toward marriage, more Japanese in their 20s and 30s are single than ever before.

Government statistics show nearly two-thirds of women under the age of 34 are unmarried, despite some 3,800 firms in Japan offering match-making services.

The average age of the school’s female students is 30 years.

“Before, people would find it easy to get married because families and society would connect them in some way, sometimes pushing them to get married. But nowadays, people have too many choices and cannot seem to make up their minds,” said Etsuko Satake, principal of the Infini marriage prep school.

Instructors provide critiques about students’ dress, posture and even details such as how they cross their legs or get out of a car. Men and women are taught different skills, which range from how to set a table well to how to be more emotionally expressive.

Students also simulate dates, during which their instructors grade their performance and point out what they did wrong.

The school charges an annual fee of 200,000 yen for unlimited access to its classes.

And some students, such as 32-year-old Mei Oda, seem to think it’s an investment worth making.

“I’m looking for a man who makes more than 10 million yen a year, doesn’t ask me to live with his parents and takes good care of me,” said Oda, a contract office worker.

Experts say that with Japan’s economy plunged deep into recession, many women are taking a renewed interest in marriage and the economic stability it could provide, and are actively seeking a partner through “konkatsu” or spouse-hunting activities.”

The above article is taken from 15 March 2010, from:

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20100312/tod-odd-us-japan-spouse-school-a929486.html

My thoughts about this article…

This is what many people do not truly realize, that parents, family and friends matter in a love relationship. I have highlighted this in “55 Things I wished I knew about guys, girls and relationships then“.

So many people think that love relationship is about all the “two of us”, and that love can conquer all obstacles, even if there are parents and friends objections.

I do personally believe that love can conquer all obstacles, but we need to be realistic about this view, instead of just getting the idea from television and movies.

That is because for many of us, no matter how we think that parents are not in the equation of a love relationship, we still do want our parents to be present at our wedding day and be supportive.

I have personal experiences, and have heard other people’s experiences concerning having to deal with parents in the midst of our love relationship, and I do admit that it is not easy.

So if you are dating with someone now, do understand the reality of your own and your partner’s parents. It will help you in the long run, and in this blog I will help you as much as I can.

And you do not need to pay me 200,000 yen a year, which is equivalent to USD$2207.42 in today’s rate, to get help for relationship advice and dating tips. Just visit my blog, post me some questions at my question and answer post, and I will be happy to answer there as much as I can.

News for this blog…

I will be posting up about parents in a love relationship in future, but I am still considering other stuff to post up too. If you want me to hurry in that parents’ aspect, do sound me off in the comments page.

In the coming post, I will discuss about scrapbooking as a gift to your boyfriend(or friends for the matter), and other related information about it. If you are looking to learn about scrapbooking, I will try to provide some additional information as well.

However, I am currently in the midst of my exams, and therefore I have not come up with the post immediately. Give me some time to clear off my responsibility.

Also, this blog is going to go through a new look! I have complains from my well-meaning friends that my blog is definitely difficult to navigate through, and I do agree. I am going to buy a template and revamp the look here.

Let me know how I can improve this blog, and I am happy to hear your comments. What do you really want to benefit from this blog?

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Related posts:

1. News and Relationship advice: Couples Who Say ‘We’ Do Better at Resolving Conflicts


2. Relationship advice – Parental objection and your love relationship – Part 1


3. Relationship advice – Parental objection and your love relationship – Part 2