Basic dealbreakers for Japanese marriage candidates
goo Ranking came up with another of their interesting ranking surveys; as always, the accuracy of the figures and the method for collecting the data is unclear, but hopefully the results make up for the potential lack of quality! Between the 28th and 30th of August 2007 goo Ranking performed a survey asking women about the basic preconditions for potential husbands and men about the basic preconditions for potential wives.
Ranking results
Q: What are the basic preconditions when deciding to marry a potential spouse?
Rank Husbands must be, must have… Score Wives must be, must have… Score 1 No verbal, physical violence 100 Compatible values, respect for values 100 2 Compatible values, respect for values 96.9 Gentle 84.6 3 No loans, etc 88.2 Doesn’t smoke 71.6 4 Financially sound 78.4 Good cook 57.5 5 Gentle 73.0 Healthy 57.5 6 Healthy 66.6 No loans, etc 53.5 7 Not a liar 63.5 Not a liar 53.2 8 Not a gambler 58.7 Same money sense 49.8 9 Same money sense 56.5 Good at tidying up, cleaning 44.1 10 Not interested in fooling around with girls 52.0 Good-looking 42.8 11 Doesn’t smoke 48.3 Not a gambler 41.8 12 Diligent 46.6 Not interested in fooling around with boys 40.5 13 Steady job 45.2 No verbal, physical violence 36.5 14 Taller than me 44.1 Diligent 35.8 15 Don’t need to live with his parents 40.2 Optimistic 35.8 16 Not constricting 39.0 Gets on with my side of the family 34.8 17 Optimistic 37.6 Have shared hobbies 32.4 18 Gets on with my side of the family 37.6 Both like similar foods 31.1 19 Good relationships within his family 36.8 Good relationships within her family 26.4 20 Has driving licence 36.0 Good at doing laundry 26.1 21 Both like similar foods 31.7 Similar thinking on child-related issues 25.8 22 Earns more than me 31.5 Not constricting 25.1 23 Good-looking 30.9 Not divorced 24.4 24 Have shared hobbies 30.1 Gets on well with my friends 22.1 25 Similar thinking on child-related issues 28.4 Younger than me 15.7 26 Not divorced 26.4 Financially sound 15.4 27 Older than me 23.0 Has driving licence 12.4 28 Gets on well with my friends 19.1 Don’t need to be adopted into her family 11.7 29 Not oldest son 18.8 Shorter than me 11.0 30 Not likely to be transferred 16.9 Don’t need to live with her parents 10.4
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Garrett said,
October 1, 2007 @ 00:48
This survey fals victim to phenomenon of people answering what they’d like to be true as opposed to what is actually true. 42.8 of men say it is important that their wives be good-looking. Pshaw! Every even remotely scientific study ever conducted shows that not only are looks important to men, they are, for most intents and purposes, the only thing that matters. 71.6 say no smoking. Give most men a hot smoker and they’ll turn a blind eye to the vice.
While the ladies, by the numbers, seem pickier, they also seem a little more honest.
Arlen said,
October 1, 2007 @ 12:32
I think the “Good relationships within his family” in the “wives must be” column should probably within /her/ family.
It’s pretty interesting stuff though. Garrett’s comment also rings true.
Ken Y-N said,
October 1, 2007 @ 12:48
Arlen, thanks, yes, that was a cut and paste error!
Garrett, yes, you’re probably right!
CL said,
October 7, 2007 @ 20:32
Sexual compatibility didn’t make the list? Hm
What Japanese wish their spouses would quit doing » 世論 What Japan Thinks said,
October 14, 2007 @ 23:28
[…] up, I suppose, on a recent ranking survey regarding what were the basic dealbreakers for potential spouses, goo Rankings came up with another entertaining survey looking at what husbands’ bad habits […]
Arvin said,
December 14, 2007 @ 02:21
Can someone explain why some women would not want to marry an oldest son (#29 on female list)? Is there a common notion that oldest sons are too spoiled, or is there some other explanation? I feel like there may be some cultural aspect I could learn about here.
Ken Y-N said,
December 14, 2007 @ 08:17
Arvin, the oldest son usually ends up inheriting not only the family home and farm, but also the parents in their old age, so it is expressing a reluctance to end being a nursemaid for the mother-in-law.