M arriages in Japan between Thai and Japanese: A Living Strategy for Thai Women

KULPRANGTHONG, Teerapol

This research focused specifically on international marriages between Thai and Japanese. The aim is to investigate how Thai women maintain their families in both counties and prevent cultural conflict that may cause an adverse effect on the domestic sphere in the future. The research was conducted using informal interviews (1-2 hours per person) with a representative group of 28 women living in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido. The results suggested that most women came from the northern region of Thailand. Some of the marriages resulted from friends' introductions to Japanese men, whereas others resulted from encounters at work or school. Respondents reported that the most important reasons to come to Japan was the guarantee of a stable life being supported by their husbands and the opportunity to get a job with good income. Another reason was that their social status would be raised in comparison to that in Thailand by showing their successful life to their cousins. Respondents explained issues about their life in Japan such as family pressure, bullying of their children,and a large generation gap with their husband. All of these problems were worse as they lacked close confidants to share their problems with and language ability to make clear communication to their husband and the other members in the family; typically the family in Japan comprises of a father, a mother, and children. In addition, the relationships with neighbors usually are not close. They said that they release their troubles by either calling their cousins in Thailand or joining the Thai Cyber Society to share their feelings, to ease their mind, and to receive information. Moreover, they have thought about going back to Thailand when they no longer need to stay in Japan.

M arriages in Japan between Thai and Japanese: A Living Strategy for Thai Women

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