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by W. David Marx, Tokyo Editor
25 January, 2010



   
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Papa Danshi: Japanese men who enjoy fatherhood

Dentsu finds that new fathers willingly dedicate time to their child-rearing duties. In other news: Don't trust everything you read about the famed deaf Ginza hostess.
 
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Japanese fathers
A father takes his child to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in order to get a little help in child rearing from the Buddha crew. (Photo by Flickr user MShades)

Dentsu offers name "Papa Danshi" for enthusiastic dads

The old idea that Japanese men never help out with child rearing may be dying. Giant advertising firm Dentsu discovered that 73.4% of fathers with children under 12 are highly involved in their upbringing and that 86% of unmarried men in their 20s want to someday contribute in the same way. Dentsu calls them "Papa Danshi" -- "papa men."

Dentsu believes this new positive attitude towards family life correlates with a move away from total devotion to the firm.

We can't help but think that the low birth rate is making little tots seem more valuable than ever before. Nothing is more exclusive and 'limited-edition' than having your own child. Perhaps playing with your kid on the weekend is to today's men what polishing your Benz was for the 1980s Bubble generation: a status symbol. Or maybe -- hopefully? -- men are just more responsible this century.

In other news

The tale of the deaf Ginza hostess: Inspiring, but not particularly true, says the Shukan Post via Japan Today.

No, there are poor people in Japan: The Japan Times looks at the political impact of the nation's staggeringly high poverty figures.

Who says the Japanese no longer like European luxury brands?: Last week robbers stole ¥9 million at a smash-and-grab of an Osaka Louis Vuitton store. Mainichi reports.




   
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Tags: Ginza hostess, Japanese poverty, parenting, Japanese fathers, Louis Vuitton
user comments and reviews (2)
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himiko
26 January, 2010
65 years ago, Japan was bombed and burned. The Japanese economy restarted from nothing. People worked so hard to reestablish their lives, both as individuals, and also for the nation as a whole. Everything we have today, our country's infrastructure, our ability to compete globally is thanks to their hard work. Their lives are something that is hard to imagine for those of us living in this new generation. I agree that the excesses of the bubble era shouldn't be praised. But you're going too far in describing bubble era fathers as irresponsible. My brother in law comes home early from work everyday to bathe his baby girl. My father didn't. But I would never describe him as irresponsible. That Japanese society has matured in this way is thanks to the work of the people who came before us.
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himiko
26 January, 2010
65 years ago, Japan was bombed and burned. The Japanese economy restarted from nothing. People worked so hard to reestablish their lives, both as individuals, and also for the nation as a whole. Everything we have today, our country's infrastructure, our ability to compete globally is thanks to their hard work. Their lives are something that is hard to imagine for those of us living in this new generation. I agree that the excesses of the bubble era shouldn't be praised. But you're going too far in describing bubble era fathers as irresponsible. My brother in law comes home early from work everyday to bathe his baby girl. My father didn't. But I would never describe him as irresponsible. That Japanese society has matured in this way is thanks to the work of the people who came before us.
ksuke
25 January, 2010
A Japanese man before worked hard only work, and did not take part in bringing up a child so much. A man these days has come to participate in bringing up a child as shown in the article. However, it is demanded to work as the main at the same time the main work. It is not possible to sleep slowly on Sunday, it is caused by the wife, and the child care and housework are demanded. Working at the company is greatly more serious though the wife single-mindedly appeals for the hardship of the child care to the husband actually. The wife doesn't understand because she has not worked hard at the company. The number of men who are extending such a bad image, dislike it, and do not marry either has increased. The woman's consideration seems to be thought that it is natural to always force the load on the man as old as former though the Japanese foreigner man's consideration is changing. The purpose of this is not to never criticize them at all even if the influence of Dentsu, the TV station, and the magazine is large, and the flattery is sold to the woman. Therefore, consideration of working is low though they insist on working right and improvement of the status of women. They always demand only an easy thing as 'Right'. This is understood from no sales of the book 'Method because of to the woman who supports a family' though is the book 'Method because of to an able woman in the office'.
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