Japanese reserve?

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 27

Japanese reserve?

By

BRUCE ROSCOE

in Tokyo

Thinking of marrying a Japanese? If so, the chances are more than one in three that the family of the prospective bride or bridegroom will wedge a spanner in the matrimonial works, according ; to the latest public opinion survey conducted by the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office to find out what people think of the presence of foreigners in Japan.

Thirty-eight per cent of

the 3000 adults surveyed opposed their brothers, sisters, or children marrying foreigners, with 28 per cent “unconditionally” approving such marriages. Ten per cent said it “depends on the nationality” of the partner. On associating with fo= reigners in general, 64 per cent replied that they would rather, not, while 25 per cent said that they were willing to or were actually making friends with foreigners.' Japanese have mixed

feelings about foreigners moving into their neighbourhood, the survey says. Forty-six per cent of those polled were “indifferent.” 37 per cent would "warmly welcome” the intrusion, and 7. per cent would adopt a “keep-away-from-foreigners” attitude. ' The Prime Minister’s Office interpreted the results of the survey as indicating that Japanese were “relatively willing” to accept foreigners in their society.- ■