Why do husbands in Japan give their entire salary to their wives?
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English 
العربية
روایتی طور پر جاپان میں بیویوں کے ہاتھوں میں تنخواہیں دینے کا رجحان دوسری In Japan, it is a traditional and common practice for husbands to give their entire salary to their wives, who then manage the household finances and provide the husband with an allowance (known as "kozukai"). This practice sRead more
روایتی طور پر جاپان میں بیویوں کے ہاتھوں میں تنخواہیں دینے کا رجحان دوسری In Japan, it is a traditional and common practice for husbands to give their entire salary to their wives, who then manage the household finances and provide the husband with an allowance (known as “kozukai”). This practice stems from a combination of historical, social, and practical factors:
See less* Traditional Gender Roles: Historically, Japanese society has had clearly defined gender roles, with men as the primary breadwinners and women as the primary caregivers and managers of the household. This division of labor extended to finances, with wives taking on the responsibility of budgeting, paying bills, and saving for the family’s future. While these roles are slowly evolving, the tradition persists in many households.
* Absence of Joint Bank Accounts: Japanese banking laws traditionally do not allow for joint bank accounts in the same way that Western countries do. This means that a couple cannot simply pool their income into a shared account. Therefore, a system evolved where one partner (typically the wife) takes charge of all the incoming funds and manages them.
* Financial Security for the Wife: In a system where only one person has access to the main income, if that person were to control all the accounts, it could leave the other partner with no financial stability. By the wife managing the salary, she has direct control over the household’s funds, providing her with financial security and the ability to manage daily expenses and savings.
* Efficiency and Budgeting: Many view this system as efficient for household budgeting. The wife, often being the one primarily responsible for daily household affairs, groceries, and children’s expenses, is in the best position to track and manage the family’s overall spending. This is also linked to the “kakeibo” budgeting method, a traditional Japanese system of meticulously tracking income and expenses, often maintained by the wife.
* Mutual Agreement and Trust: While it might seem unusual from a Western perspective, this arrangement is often based on mutual agreement and trust between spouses. It’s an established part of many marriages, where both partners understand and accept their respective financial roles. The “kozukai” (allowance) for the husband is then his personal spending money.
* “Hesokuri” (Secret Savings): An interesting aspect related to this practice is the concept of “hesokuri,” which refers to secret savings that wives might stash away without their husbands’ knowledge. This money is often for emergencies, long-term savings, or personal use, and it highlights the wife’s autonomy and foresight in managing finances.
While there are ongoing discussions about changing gender roles and financial independence in Japan, the practice of wives managing the family’s entire salary remains a significant part of Japanese household finance management.