"Retired Husband Syndrome 夫源病

日本語の後に英語が続きます。

Menopause-related symptoms are common. However, here in Japan, they are sometimes triggered by husbands who don't lift a finger at home, yet expect their wives to thank them just for providing for the family.

This is fugenbyo—an illness caused by one's husband—which was reportedly diagnosed in the Japanese comedian Emiko Kaminuma, who has been married for over 40 years. According to the diagnosis, her physical symptoms, such as depression and high blood pressure, stem from husband-origin illness rather than menopause.

Are you concerned about your mental or emotional well-being? If so, try the checklist below to see how many items apply to your husband. If more than seven items apply, he is almost certainly the root cause of your stress. If five to seven apply, he likely is. If it's four or fewer, rest assured, he isn't the problem. While this condition is widely known as 'Retired Husband Syndrome,' these symptoms don't only appear after retirement. In fact, many Japanese wives suffer from them long before their husbands actually stop working.

• He is nice to others, but grumpy to you and the children.
• He is always bossy to you.
• He doesn't do any household chores, yet he complains.
• He thinks that you and the children owe him because he provides for you.
• He rarely says "Thank you" or "I'm sorry."
• He often checks your schedule and plans.
• He has few friends or hobbies outside of work.
• He doesn't want you to go out by yourself.
• He sees himself as a "good husband" who does household chores and child-rearing.
• He changes completely when he is behind the wheel.

Eight of these traits apply to my dad, which finally made me realize why my mom was always nagging years ago. But in my parents’ case, the problem wasn't just Dad—it was Mom, too. She believes that men shouldn't be talkative or do housework, and that they are superior simply because they provide for the family. Honestly, most of her health issues were brought on by herself, not her husband.

Posted on 7/29/2018

Revised on 10/9/2026

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更年期障害なんて珍しくもないが、日本では、家事をしない、養ってやってるから感謝しろという夫が原因で起きるらしい。上沼恵美子さんが発症している（いた？）そうで、それによると、うつや高血圧等の更年期障害の症状、実は「夫源病」かもしれないというのである。ということで下のチェック項目の内、いくつ旦那さんに当てはまるかお試しあれ。4個以下はセーフ、5～7個は予備軍、8個以上は夫源病だそうです。

• 人前では愛想がいいが、家では不機嫌
• 上から目線で話をする
• 家事に手は出さない（手伝わない）が口は出す
• 妻や子どもを養ってきたという自負が強い
• 「ありがとう」「ごめんなさい」のセリフはほとんどない
• 妻の予定や行動をよくチェックする
• 仕事関係以外の交友や趣味が少ない
• 妻が1人で外出するのを嫌がる
• 家事の手伝いや子育てを自慢する自称「いい夫」
• 車のハンドルを握ると性格が一変する

でもこれって夫だけではなく妻にも原因があるのでは。。。だって、自分は専業主婦したいので稼いできて～という奥さん、未だに結構多いような気がします。ということは夫現病ならぬ自源病😆？人生山あり谷ありです。

初稿　7/29/2018

改訂　10/9/2026

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