Kateinai Rikon

[kirei_na_me]

This term has just come to my attention recently, and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or insight regarding kateinai rikon.

I was wondering what exactly the terms are for a typical kateinai rikon--if any--and wondering just how popular this term and practice are in Japan.

By the way, to those who don't know what "kateinai rikon" means, it is "in house divorce" or "in family divorce". Or something like that.

[neko_girl22]

from what I've heard and understood it is a modern times term for a sex-less marriage, basically a word, almost slang, to describe a couple that live together, but in all other regards are like they are divorced. It's not a legal divorce.
I have no idea how popular it is, but apparently it's not so rare...
I might not have understood it correctly though, so I hope others with more knowledge will comment ;)

[Uncle Frank]

Sounds like the average marriage that lasts over 15 or 20 years.

Frank

[samuraitora]

I think that is because they seem to be able to get along ...lol
Actually, I read a study that says, "Japanese people get married and abide by the promises they made and can have a longer lasting relationship because of that."

For the life of me, I can't seem to find the article again.

[Swifty]

Thats True

I dont think i know more then 5 people or well close friends who's parents are still together!? my own included

kinda sad really

but i dont know many japanese who are separated if any

[budd]

hmm, i had never heard of this -- google came up with a lot of stuff too
but i was reading this a bit -- will have to finish later
edit: actually, it may not apply to this topic at all nm
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/japanlive/files/young.doc

[kirei_na_me]

Originally posted by nzueda
from what I've heard and understood it is a modern times term for a sex-less marriage, basically a word, almost slang, to describe a couple that live together, but in all other regards are like they are divorced. It's not a legal divorce.
I have no idea how popular it is, but apparently it's not so rare...
I might not have understood it correctly though, so I hope others with more knowledge will comment ;)

nzueda, thank you. I had heard some people talking about it recently and wondered exactly what the arrangements were. Does the couple actually come together and say they're going to do this or does it just happen? Do they continue to live together or separate? I think you cleared it up a lot for me, though. Thank you.

And Frank, yes, it does sound like some couples I know who have been married for quite awhile.

[Elizabeth]

I read somewhere also that a lot of Japanese men actually look for sex from their wives on the night before they're going to be granted a divorce presumably because they are finally concerned that the end of the relationship is at hand. So I'd say it's probably something that just happens gradually in most cases, although those would be the expecations going in as well. It would be interesting to see what the childless rate for married couples is in Japan. A lot of men and women must be in agony without any way of knowing whether they're even capable of producing kids or not. Truly a bizarre state of affairs there....
:sick:

[mdchachi]

knm, I'm told it's normally used to refer to older couples with grown kids who would probably get a divorce but only stay married for the sake of convenience or to avoid the financial or social penalties involved. So they are essentially living their own lives out but residing in the same house. I guess it's the same as being "separated" except that they are still living together.

It's most likely to be the woman who perpetuates this state. An older woman will generally not have the financial resources necessary to leave her husband and probably there's too much water under the bridge to salvage any affection there once was.

I guess this is one-step removed from the typical dysfunctional marriage you see in Japan where the dissatisfied couple at least do things as a couple on occasion and seem from the outside to have a decent marriage.