Theme 1: 変わっていく若者の生活 (The Changing Lives of Young People)
Research Subject: 家族関係や人間関係 (Family and Human Relationships)
Welcome to your complete revision notes for the 家族関係や人間関係 (Family and human relationships) research subject! In Edexcel A Level Japanese (9JA0), this topic is a core component of Theme 1 and is assessed in Paper 1, Section C: Writing (Research Task).
Don't worry if Japanese sociological terms look intimidating at first. We will break down every concept step by step, trace how family dynamics have transformed from the pre-war era to today, and show you exactly how to write an analytical 600–700 character essay in Japanese.
Let's explore the three official specification pillars:
• Pillar 1: 伝統的な家族構成 (Traditional family structure)
• Pillar 2: 核家族 (The nuclear family & demographic shifts)
• Pillar 3: 家庭内の人間関係 (Relationships within the home)
Pillar 1: 伝統的な家族構成 (Traditional Family Structure)
To understand modern Japanese youth and family life, we first need to look back at the traditional framework that shaped Japanese society.
1. The Ie System (家制度 - Ie Seido)
The traditional family structure was legally codified under the Meiji Civil Code (明治民法) in 1898 and remained the legal law until it was officially abolished by the Post-WWII Civil Code revision in 1947.
Even though it is no longer law, the cultural expectations of the 家制度 (Ie system) still influence traditional attitudes today. Think of the Ie not just as a group of relatives, but as a continuous "household enterprise" that must survive across generations.
Key features of the Ie system include:
• 家長 (Kachō - Household Head): Absolute patriarchal authority rested with the male head of the house. He made decisions regarding marriages, residences, and family property.
• 長男相続 (Chōnan Sōzoku - Primogeniture): The eldest son inherited all family property, the family business, and the responsibility to carry on the family name.
• 先祖供養 (Senzo Kuyō - Ancestral Worship): Filial piety and maintaining the family Buddhist altar and graves were paramount duties of the household head and his wife.
• 直系家族 (Chokkei Kazoku - Stem Family): Only one child (usually the eldest son) remained in the household after marriage to continue the lineage; younger siblings left to establish branch houses or marry into other families.
2. Multi-generational Co-residence (三世代同居 - San-sedai Dōkyo)
In traditional communities, it was standard for three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—to live together under one roof (三世代同居). Under this model:
• Childcare and farming/household work were shared internally.
• Elder care (介護 - Kaigo) was strictly a domestic, private duty performed by the family, especially by the eldest son's wife (嫁 - yome).
Quick Analogy: Think of the Ie system as a relay race where the baton (the family name, property, and ancestors) must be passed down from eldest son to eldest son without dropping it.
Key Takeaway for Pillar 1: The 家制度 (1898–1947) prioritized the continuation of the family lineage through the 家長 and 長男相続, relying on 三世代同居 where caregiving was entirely a private family duty.
---Pillar 2: 核家族 (The Nuclear Family & Structural Shifts)
After World War II, Japan underwent rapid modernization that completely reshaped how and where families lived.
1. Rise of the Nuclear Family (核家族化 - Kakukazoku-ka)
During Japan's 高度経済成長期 (High Economic Growth Period, 1950s–1970s), millions of young people moved from rural farming areas to large cities like Tokyo and Osaka for industrial and corporate jobs. This mass migration was known as 集団就職 (Shūdan Shūshoku - group employment).
As these young workers married in the cities, they formed their own separate two-generation households consisting only of parents and children. This marked the dramatic rise of the 核家族 (Nuclear family).
2. Demographic Pressures & Modern Household Types
Today, the nuclear family itself is shrinking and diversifying due to major demographic shifts:
• 少子高齢化 (Shōshi Kōreika - Declining Birthrate & Aging Population): Japan's total fertility rate (合計特殊出生率 - Gōkei Tokushu Shusshō-ritsu) has seen prolonged decline, resulting in fewer children per household.
• 晩婚化 (Bankonka - Trend of Late Marriage) & 生涯未婚率 (Shōgai Mikonritsu - Lifetime Non-Marriage Rate): Young people are marrying much later in life or choosing to remain unmarried due to changing personal values, financial insecurity, and career priorities.
• 単身世帯 (Tanshin Setai - Single-person Households): Due to unmarried youth and elderly people living alone, single-person households now represent a massive portion of all Japanese households.
• ひとり親世帯 (Hitori-oya Setai - Single-parent Households): Increasing divorce rates have led to more single-parent families, raising discussions on economic support.
• DINKS (ディンクス - Double Income, No Kids): Married couples who consciously choose both careers over having children.
Did You Know? The traditional image of the "typical Japanese family" (mother, father, two kids) is no longer the statistical majority; single-person households (単身世帯) are rapidly growing.
Key Takeaway for Pillar 2: Urbanization during the 高度経済成長期 sparked 核家族化. Today, 少子高齢化, 晩婚化, and rising 生涯未婚率 have created diverse household forms, such as 単身世帯 and ひとり親世帯.
---Pillar 3: 家庭内の人間関係 (Relationships Within the Home)
As household structures changed, the roles and relationships inside the home transformed just as radically.
1. From Strict Gender Roles to Dual-Income Families
• 性別役割分担 (Seibetsu Yakuwari Buntan - Gender Division of Roles): In the postwar corporate boom, the standard dynamic was strictly divided: the husband was the 企業戦士 (Kigyō Senshi - corporate warrior) working exhausting hours, while the wife was a 専業主婦 (Sengyō Shufu - full-time homemaker) managing all domestic affairs and child education.
• 共働き世帯 (Tomobataraki Setai - Dual-Income Households): Economic conditions and women's educational and professional advancement have caused dual-income households to heavily outnumber single-earner households today.
• イクメン (Ikumen) & 育児休業 (Ikuji Kyūgyō - Paternity Leave): Modern fathers are increasingly encouraged to take an active role in child-rearing. The government actively promotes paternity leave (育児休業) to foster gender equality and relieve maternal pressure, though societal workplace pressures still present challenges.
2. Family Communication, Isolation & Modern Social Tensions
Modern Japanese homes experience new dynamics and pressures:
• 親子関係の変容 (Changing Parent-Child Dynamics): Traditional strict hierarchical authority has softened, leading to more egalitarian relationships, but sometimes less communication due to busy schedules.
• パラサイト・シングル (Parasite Singles): Unmarried young adults who continue to live with their parents well into adulthood to enjoy rent-free, comfortable living without household responsibilities.
• 引きこもり (Hikikomori - Social Withdrawal) & the 8050問題 (8050 Mondai): Severe acute social isolation where individuals stay confined at home. The "8050 problem" refers to aging parents in their 80s financially supporting isolated children in their 50s within the home.
• 介護疲れ (Kaigo-tsukare - Caregiver Fatigue): With the decline of multi-generational living, looking after elderly parents placed immense physical and psychological stress on nuclear family members. To shift elder care from a purely domestic burden to a shared social responsibility, Japan introduced the 介護保険制度 (Kaigo Hoken Seido - Long-term Care Insurance System) in 2000.
Key Takeaway for Pillar 3: The home has shifted from the postwar 企業戦士 + 専業主婦 model toward 共働き世帯 and イクメン participation. However, smaller families face modern challenges like パラサイト・シングル, the 8050問題, and 介護疲れ, which prompted reforms like the 介護保険制度.
---Exam Strategy: Paper 1 Section C (Research Task)
In Paper 1 Section C (40 marks), you will write an analytical essay in Japanese based on your research and an unseen stimulus text.
Assessment Objectives Breakdown
• AO4 (Knowledge and Understanding): Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Japanese family transitions (historical shifts, demographic statistics, government systems).
• AO2 (Argument & Stimulus Integration): Synthesize the stimulus text with your own independent research, forming a logical, cohesive argument.
• AO3 (Accuracy & Register): Use high-level grammar and topic-specific vocabulary accurately.
Essential Writing Rules
1. Target Length: Aim strictly for 600–700 Japanese characters. Writing too few characters limits your ability to develop arguments; writing far too many risks unfinished conclusions and grammatical slips.
2. Consistent Register: Always write your essay in the formal plain style: だ・である体 (論文体). Never mix だ/である with です/ます in an academic essay.
3. Essay Structure: Structure your essay logically (Introduction / 導入 \(\rightarrow\) Body Analysis with Evidence / 本論 \(\rightarrow\) Conclusion / 結論).
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
• Pitfall 1: Pure Description without Analysis (AO4 Trap): Don't just list what the Ie system was. Analyze why it changed, how it impacts modern young people, and what problems (e.g. 介護疲れ, 少子化) arose as a result.
• Pitfall 2: Historical Anachronism: Do not write that the Ie system is current law. Clearly state it was abolished in 1947 but remains an ideological legacy.
• Pitfall 3: Ignoring the Stimulus: Make sure you directly address the ideas in the provided exam reading passage while weaving in your researched facts.
Master Vocabulary Checklist
Make sure you can recognize, read, and write these essential terms:
• 家制度 (いえせいど): The traditional family system (abolished 1947)
• 家長 (かちょう): Head of the household
• 長男相続 (ちょうなんそうぞく): Primogeniture (eldest son inheritance)
• 三世代同居 (さんせだいどうきょ): Three generations living together
• 核家族化 (かくかぞくか): Rise of nuclear families
• 高度経済成長期 (こうどけいざいせいちょうき): High economic growth period (1950s–1970s)
• 少子高齢化 (しょうしこうれいか): Declining birthrate and aging population
• 合計特殊出生率 (ごうけいとくしゅしゅっしょうりつ): Total fertility rate
• 晩婚化 (ばんこんか): Trend toward marrying later in life
• 生涯未婚率 (しょうがいみこんりつ): Lifetime non-marriage rate
• 単身世帯 (たんしんせたい): Single-person household
• 専業主婦 (せんぎょうしゅふ): Full-time homemaker
• 共働き世帯 (ともばたらきせたい): Dual-income household
• 育児休業 (いくじきゅうぎょう): Paternity / parental childcare leave
• 介護保険制度 (かいごほけんせいど): Long-term Care Insurance System (enacted 2000)
• 8050問題 (はちまるごーまるもんだい): Elderly parents in their 80s supporting isolated adult children in their 50s