World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
More Japanese Women Are Choosing Divorce Later in Life
More Japanese women are choosing divorce after decades of marriage, a trend known as “silver divorce.”
Ayumi, a 62-year-old woman in Kawasaki, is finalising a divorce from her husband after more than 20 years together.
Her husband moved out nearly a year ago, and their two daughters have grown up and left home.
Ayumi said they once worked well as a team, but over time they stopped talking as they had before.
Her husband worked long hours, while she took care of the home and raised their children; the family also faced financial stress and the deaths of their parents.
The daughters leaving home was the final break, and the couple are now completing their divorce.
A 62-year-old woman in Kawasaki is finalising a divorce after more than two decades of marriage.
Her husband moved out nearly a year ago, after their two daughters had grown up and left home.
Ayumi said the couple had stopped talking as they once did.
She described years of long work hours for her husband and caring for the house and children for herself.
- Who
- Ayumi, a 62-year-old Kawasaki resident, and her husband.
- What
- They are finalising a divorce after more than two decades of marriage.
- When
- Her husband moved out nearly a year ago; the divorce is being finalised.
- Where
- Kawasaki, Japan.
- Why
- Ayumi said they stopped talking as they had before, and the final break came after their daughters left home.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ayumi and her husband’s daughters grew up and left home.
Ayumi’s husband moved out.
Ayumi and her husband are finalising their divorce.
- Age
- Ayumi is 62.
- Location
- Kawasaki, Japan.
- Marriage
- More than two decades.
- Separation
- Her husband moved out nearly a year ago.
- Family
- The couple have two daughters who have grown up and left home.
What people are saying
I think we worked well as a team at the beginning, but somewhere along the way, we just stopped talking like we had before.
He worked very long hours, including on weekends, and I was always busy taking care of the house and raising the children.