Japanese men declare 'Wives Day' to show they care (Reuters) Updated: 2006-01-31 19:19
A group of Japanese men hoping to encourage the nation's legions of
workaholic husbands to head home early and show their wives some appreciation
have proclaimed Tuesday "Beloved Wives Day".
The group, which calls itself the "Japan Doting Husbands Association", urged
men to get home by 8 p.m. and say thanks to their wives for all they do.
"Many men can't put their feelings of gratitude towards their wives into
words. Work is number one for them," the non-profit group says on its Web site,
http://www.aisaika.org
"This attitude is putting Japanese marriages under great pressure."
Statistics bear this out. Japan's divorce rate has risen steadily over the
years. In 2004, more than one in three marriages ended in divorce.
The group urges men to improve the marital mood through five "golden rules"
including going home early, calling wives by their given name and looking them
in the eyes when talking.
Many Japanese husbands call their wives "you" rather than addressing them by
name, or in some cases merely grunt.
The group's homepage includes a column where husbands can write down feelings
they are too shy to say out loud.
"I'm sorry I had a car accident. I'm sorry I'm away so much on business
trips. I'm sorry I end up sleeping at the office so often," said one from a man
in Kanagawa, near to Tokyo.
"Thank you for loving me just the same."
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