Motherless by Yokozeki Kazuhiro

Motherless: Single Father Families in Japan

According to the 2011 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Census, there were about 223,300 single father families in Japan as compared with about 1,237,700 single mother families (1). The number of single fathers is relatively small, but it has been increasing every year due to widespread divorce and cohabitation without getting married. Yet in the country of male-dominated workplace and work-obsessive culture, being a single father is both demanding and challenging. It is especially so now because Japanese men have to work longer hours in response to the current recession and globalized competition. There is also so much risk of their being marginalized and left alone. In fact, not until 2010 did single fathers start to receive the child-rearing allowance because of the anachronistic prejudice and Childcare Act which were based on the assumption that a single father could take care of his family easily as compared with a single mother and denied the allowance to single father family. A few single fathers start raising their voices against the stereotype and their plight, and trying to establish a new way of motherless life and community through networking each other(2). I examine how single father families are adapting their way of life to the new circumstances and surviving in this ever-changing society.

Takaki Hara (38) and his only son Rukiya (12) in Kanagawa prefecture are one of the single father families. He has been a single father since he got divorced 13 years ago. He has a wide range of careers starting from a clerk in cell phone store to a manager of restaurants. Now, he puts his energy for his own NPO for single parent’s community called “SINFA” (the acronym of “Single Father or Family”) with constant intake habits of smoking and Red Bulls while managing three restaurants in Osaka. In addition to his natural-born smart business skills, he is a master in Japanese Calligraphy and an excellent chef as well. He said that he had perfect confidence in his ability to take care of his son after he divorced his wife. Although Rukiya had an open heart surgery for congenital aortic stenosis 4 years ago, Takaki and Rukiya keep their family unit intact with support from friends and their single parents’ community.

June, 2011- March, 2013

(1) Excluding single father families living with grand-parents.

(2) One can say that it would be impossible without the widespread use of the internet and social networking sites such Twitter or Facebook.

Picture of Rukiya Hara(12) who ...anging on the living room wall.

Picture of Rukiya Hara(12) who is 2 years old hanging on the living room wall.

Takaki Hara (38), right, drives...ersonal mission. June 11, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38), right, drives a mini-van north with the help of his friend, Tetsuya Kurita (31),left, and his son Rukiya (12) to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated from Kanagawa prefecture. They are on the way for volunteering and research on the newly displaced single parent families due to the 3.11 earthquake as part of Takaki Hara's NPO and personal mission. June 11, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38), right, checks...ollege students. July 21, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38), right, checks and folds his son’s jacket while his son, Rukiya(12 ),left, watches TV just before going out together to attend the lecture and report on Takaki Hara’s single father family NPO activities' lecture for college students. July 21, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) meanders amid ...ersonal mission. June 11, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) meanders amid the ruins of Ofunato city, Iwate prefecture which was destroyed by the 3.11 M9 earthquake and tsunami. He and his father, Takaki Hara (38) are on the way to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated for volunteering and research on the newly displaced single parent families due to the 3.11 earthquake as part of Takaki Hara's NPO and personal mission. June 11, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) helps making p...Iwate prefecture. June 11, 2011

Rukiya Hara (12) helps making potato chips for the evacuee from 3.11 earthquake and tsunami with the help of other volunteers at Akasaki district community center, Iwate prefecture. June 11, 2011

Rukiya Hara (12) impersonates a...ersonal mission. June 13, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) impersonates a baseball player of Yomiuri Giants ,Alex Ramírez, at the parking lot of Ichinoseki, Iwate prefecture. Rukiya's favorite baseball team is the Softbank Hawks though, not the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants because the Softbank team is based in Fukuoka, Kyusyu, where he was born. He and his father, Takaki Hara (38) are on the way back home from the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated and the road trip of Takaki Hara’s NPO and personal mission. June 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38), right, makes ...wate prefecture. June 12, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38), right, makes a puff of smoke after exhausting long drive to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated for volunteering and research on the newly displaced single parent families due to the 3.11 earthquake as part of his NPO and personal mission while his son Rukiya (12) slurps ramen noodle, stopover supper, at roadside restaurant in Iwate prefecture. June 12, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) plays with a b...ersonal mission. June 12, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) plays with a beach ball while his friend, Sakurako Murakami (8), left, also single father’s child, fondles with a pet frog in Sakurako’s room. Rukiya and Takaki Hara sleeps over at one of their single father friends, Yoshinobu Murakami (31)’s home in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture on the way to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated for volunteering and research on the newly displaced single parent families due to the 3.11 earthquake as part of Takaki Hara's NPO and personal mission. June 12, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12),far left, &...l mission trip. March 11, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12),far left, eats their own self-cooked breakfast with Hibiki Murakami (9), right, also single father’s child, while his sister, Sakurako Murakami (8) helps Hime Kumagai (5), a child of single mother, a member of Takaki Hara's single parent's NPO, to tidy up her hair. Rukiya and Takaki Hara sleep over at one of their single father friends, Yoshinobu Murakami (31)’s home in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. They are on the way to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated as part of Takaki Hara's annual NPO and personal mission trip. March 11, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12) wrestles with ...nbsp;  March 11, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12) wrestles with Hibiki Murakami (9), also single father’s child while Sakurako Murakami(8) and Hime Kumagai (5),far right, a child of single mother, a member of Takaki Hara's single parent's NPO, playing alone in Murakamis' room. Rukiya and Takaki Hara sleep over at one of their single father friends, Yoshinobu Murakami (31)’s home in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. They are on the way to the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated as Takaki Hara's annual NPO and personal mission trip. March 11, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12), is totally ab...l mission trip. March 12, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12), is totally absorbed in Nintendo DS game in a backseat of mini-van. He and Takaki Hara are on the way back home from the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated and they visited there as Takaki Hara's annual NPO and personal mission trip. March 12, 2012.

Takaki Hara (38) is absorbed in... summer break. August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38) is absorbed in his cell phone text messaging while his son, Rukiya (12) watches TV in their living room. They are reflected on the mirror of Budweiser goods. Rukiya is on summer break. August 13, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) falls into a d...gawa prefecture. June 11, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) falls into a deep sleep on chair cushion with his iPod in his room on Saturday night. Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa prefecture. June 11, 2011.

Rukiya Hara(12), left, plays wi...ocery shopping. August 13,2011.

Rukiya Hara(12), left, plays with himself while Takaki Hara(38), right, busy at networking via cell phone before they go grocery shopping. August 13,2011.

Photos of bed ridden Rukiya Har...ruggle and hope. June 12, 2011.

Photos of bed ridden Rukiya Hara(12)’ s open heart surgery for congenital aortic valve stenosis 2 years ago and his cleft palate surgery when he was born which his father Takaki Hara(38) always carries in his bag to remind him of their struggle and hope. June 12, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38),right, and Ruk...wa prefecture. August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38),right, and Rukiya (12),left, share an intimate moment during grocery shopping at a supermarket nearby. Kawasaki city, Kanagawa prefecture. August 13, 2011.

A picture drawn by Rukiya Hara ...ot;  February 3, 2013.

A picture drawn by Rukiya Hara when he was 3 years old and personal photos at the entrance of their new home. It says, " Dad, Always Hang In There!" February 3, 2013.

Takaki Hara (38) right, and his...ssion.  June 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38) right, and his son Rukiya (12), left, waits for sushi plates to be delivered patiently at restaurant in Ichinoseki, Iwate prefecture. They are on the way back home from the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated for volunteering and research on the newly displaced single parent families due to the 3.11 earthquake as part of Takaki Hara's NPO and personal mission. June 13, 2011.

Rukiya Hara(12),right, and his ...ture at night. October 1, 2011.

Rukiya Hara(12),right, and his friend, Tomoki Koga(9) ,left, also a child of single mother, have fun with short lived toy fireworks in their own way on the shore of Tama river in Kanagawa prefecture at night. October 1, 2011.

Takaki Hara (39) fillets a fish...orite hobbies. October 1, 2011.

Takaki Hara (39) fillets a fish that he caught in Izu peninsula coast for BBQ party held for Takaki Hara’s Single Family NPO members in his kitchen. Both cooking and fishing are his favorite hobbies. October 1, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) finishes his l...trip.  March 12, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12) finishes his lunch bowl at a gas station cafeteria. He and Takaki Hara are on the way back home from the Tohoku region where the 3.11’s M9 earthquake and Tsunami devastated and they visited there as Takaki Hara's annual NPO and personal mission trip. March 12, 2012.

Rukiya Hara (12) ,center,and hi...wa prefecture. October 1, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) ,center,and his friends, all children of single parents are absorbed in Playstation game and other electrical gadgets at his home BBQ party held for Takaki Hara’s Single Family NPO members.Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa prefecture. October 1, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) fights against...gawa prefecture. July 21, 2011.

Rukiya Hara (12) fights against a slumber in the late morning in his room. He tends to stay up late because he is on summer break. Kawasiki-city, Kanagawa prefecture. July 21, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38),right, becomes...wa prefecture. August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38),right, becomes a bit upset about his son Rukiya's disorganized room because Rukiya (12), left,is on summer break and starts leading a loose life. Kawasaki city, Kanagawa prefecture. August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38)'s ciga...ure.  August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara (38)'s cigarette butts and popsicle sticks accumulated in an ashtray. Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa prefecture. August 13, 2011.

Takaki Hara’s mother,...a prefecture. February 3, 2013.

Takaki Hara’s mother, Kuniko Hara (62) passed away after a long struggle with cancer on Feburary 2,2013. Rukiya Hara(13) attends a wake of his grandmother somberly holding at their new home in the suburb of Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture. February 3, 2013.

Rukiya Hara (13)’s di...esk and life. February 3, 2013.

Rukiya Hara (13)’s disorganized desk in their new home in the suburb of Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture. He has to take a high school entrance exam next year. Takaki Hara is a little upset about the situation on his son’s desk and life. February 3, 2013.

Rukiya Hara (13) is absorbed in...escent stage. February 3, 2013.

Rukiya Hara (13) is absorbed in Nintendo DS game quietly in a living room of his new home in the suburb of Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture at a wake of his grandmother. He is entering into an adolescent stage. February 3, 2013.

A view from Takaki Hara&#39...his son Rukiya. March 12, 2013.

A view from Takaki Hara's mini-van on the way back home from snowboarding trip in the northern mountain area with his son Rukiya. March 12, 2013.

Takaki Hara’s mini-va...his son Rukiya. March 12, 2013.

Takaki Hara’s mini-van is reflected on a highway wall on the way back home from snowboarding trip in the northern mountain with his son Rukiya. March 12, 2013.