Gender

Males and Females in Japan

''Discrimination based on gender was forbidden by the Japanese Constitution''.

Women still control the household, household budget, and household decisions, allowing men to devote themselves to their work. This is changing as more women start careers. Both genders are also delaying marriage. The stigma of being single is fading for both genders, most of all for women.

There are a few key ideas about gender that persist :

Men should work outside the home
Genders should be brought up differently
Women are more suited to household work and child rearing than men.
Full time housewives are valuable to society because of their family raising role.

A Japanese Male Should Be Aware Of:

Men should wear dark conservative attire. Business suits are more suitable.
Avoid using large hand gestures, unusual facial expressions and any dramatic movements. The Japanese do not talk with their hands and if you do so, you could distract your host.
A smile can have double meaning. It can express either joy or displeasure. Use caution with your facial expressions. They can be easily misunderstood.
Do not openly display money. It is rare to see it given from person to person in Japan. It is important to use an envelope to pass money.
In Asian countries, the number 14 is bad luck because in Japanese culture, it sounds like the word ‘shuh-shuh’, which sounds like the word for death.
Tipping is not expected.