Money Matters - No.3

The Japanese government has at last made the first step toward a fairer society.

On January 16, 2018, the Legislative Council for the Justice Ministry on Civil Law released proposals on the revision of inheritance related law.

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/001246034.pdf

The major items include the following:

1. Division of right to a home into the right of residence and the right of ownership and granting the right of residence to the surviving spouse even if he or she has no right of ownership

2. Allowing a relative with no right of inheritance to seek financial compensation for his or her caregiving to the decedent  

Both revisions are mostly intended to protect women. For example, in the case 1, the newly established right of residence will prevent surviving wives from being evicted by other heirs.

Also, in the case 2, relatives (e.g., the wife of the eldest son of a family) who provided care to the decedent (e.g., her father or mother in law) may seek financial compensation against the decedent’s children. Under the current law, these women have no right of inheritance and as cheap domestic labor, are the major and sometimes only caregiver to their fathers and mothers in law.

The motive for these revisions is not to help these exploited women who have been looking after their husbands’ parents all by themselves free of charge, but to encourage them to keep doing so in exchange for fee paid by their family members. The government is so desperate to reduce medical costs.

But whatever the real motive is, these are good things, aren’t they? The government has finally recognized the importance of the financial reward for such care services, whether provided by professional caregivers or family members.

However, issues remain. First, how about relatives who have the right of inheritance and provided care? Won't they be rewarded for their services even if they look after their parents all by themselves? It is frequent in Japan that one of the siblings, chosen whatever the reason is, has to take care of his or her parent(s) all by him/herself and even sometimes loses his/her job because it was too hard to juggle work and caregiving, and ends up being evicted by other vulture like siblings after the parent's death. 

If you are interested in a terrible case in which children who did not take care of their parents at all, but ultimately evict their sibling who had been the sole caregiver, please read the below post.

http://keinarujima.blogspot.jp/2017/12/money-may-not-matter-to-you-but-to-me.html

Those who provide care should all be compensated for their work. Care services are not something you can expect on a goodwill basis, but should be financially compensated for as other jobs are. 

The last but not the least is that common marriages will remain out of the scope. In other words, one common-law partner may not be the other partner's heir and this will remain as it is. I will talk about this in another post.   

Reason for Writing in English, My Second Language - No.2

Why do I write posts for the blog in English, my second language?

I wrote about this before and said at that time that attracting more diverse readers was one major reason. (http://keinarujima.blogspot.jp/2018/01/reason-for-writing-in-english-not-my.html)

But this time I found another reason. As a second language, English does not suppress my feelings.

When thinking about something in Japanese, I unconsciously answer it based on what have been told by others.

For example, my parents often told me to do what they told me to do and to not ask questions about it. So, when I was asked by the emcee of a concert in which I participated when I was ten or so how I felt about my performance and answered that I had done my best, but my parents told me that I should have said that I had not been satisfied with my performance, I couldn't ask why.

English releases me. It is not my first language and has not been tainted. Asking questions is considered good (or at least not bad) and so, the influence of others (e.g., parents, teachers) on me through the language is limited. English is a useful tool for me to analyze myself more objectively. 

It also helps me create ideas, which also requires thinking. Again, English releases me.

So, what do you think? Are you an English native speaker or a speaker of English, but as a second language? Are there any differences between thinking in your first tongue and thinking in a second language?

I would like to know if there is anyone who writes posts in their second language and the reason... 

Steps to Happier Me

What is happiness for me? What need to be done for me to be happier?
The following is a list of items that I want or need to do:

1. Writing

I have been wanting to be a writer since I was twelve and am a writer now in a sense by launching this blog. But I want to write more and discuss various ideas, including the definition of happiness, with as many people as possible of many countries.

2. Some money

Since I can't earn money by writing now, I need to work for money.

3. Relationship

My husband is my soulmate. I enjoy talking and eating with him and respect him. I want him to stay healthy.

4. Life in Kyoto or Nara

I currently live in Tokyo for business reasons and it is impossible to move to Kyoto or Nara now since I can't find a job there. But in ten to twenty years, I will move there.

5. Morning walk

Not any place is ok. A quiet and beautiful place such as Todaiji Temple in Nara or along the Kamogawa River in Kyoto is the best.

6. A cup of coffee after morning walk

After the walk, I want to drop by a favorite coffee shop and have a cup of coffee. 

7. Good food markets

I love cooking, so I want to buy seasonal fresh vegetables, fish, meat, tofu, etc., at reasonable prices.

8. Japanese sappari sweets

I am not a great fan of cakes or cookies, but like Japanese sappari sweets. (http://keinarujima.blogspot.jp/2018/02/my-favorite-sappari-japanese-sweets.html). Their gentle and natural sweetness makes me smile. I want to try every such sweet.

9. Posts about these sweets

After enjoying seeing and tasting them, I want to introduce them to you. 

10. Writing again

I want to write till the day I die.

To this end, I need to be healthy physically and psychologically.

I am certain this list will go on……

Japanese Valentine's Day

In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. And many of you may know, women give chocolates to their male supervisors and co-workers to show their respect or gratitude as well. Such chocolates are called "Giri Choko (obligation chocolates) and are infamous among not only women but also men because men who received chocolates have to give the woman something in return on March 14, White Day.   

Early February this year, one of my co-workers in her 20s came to me and asked if I could join an Obligation Chocolates group for male employees sitting near us. 

I was about to say that it was a bad idea. Some of these male co-workers have children, are too gentle and think about the meaning of the obligation chocolates too deeply to ignore this notorious over-40-years Japanese tradition of expensive return gifts.   

But I said nothing. She is a new member of our department. It is a bigger sin to ruin her brilliant idea of showing gratitude and respect to male co-workers. 

I have not been able to ask if the male co-workers enjoyed chocolates. Or even if I had asked, they would never answer honestly. They are too gentle. It was my mistake to assume that old and bad traditions would go away. It is still how things work.  

I look forward to what I will receive on White Day.