SpringerBriefs in Population Studies Changes in Work and Family Life in Japan Under COVID-19 Kartoniert (TB)

This book describes how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way of work the division of household labor and family formation in Japan. One of the characteristics of Japanese employment practices is a stable employer-employment relationship and seniority-based wage system. In return long working hours especially for men who are called salarymen (salaried workers or company men) are required. The pandemic has led to an expansion of telework and has reduced their working hours which has made them return to their homes to work. In contrast non-regular employees who are mostly women ha s become more unstable in employment and their incomes fell. This tendency has become even stronger under the pandemic. Compared with conditions in Western countries in Japan wives have a greater responsibility for domestic chores. In the pandemic as children's classes shifted to online and childcare support facilities were temporarily closed the burden of housework and child-rearing increased for wives. However husbands who worked from home shared a part of the housework and popular home delivery services helped to reduce the burdens on wives. Japan is one of the developed countries with low fertility rates. Under the pandemic many Japanese postponed starting a family which further shrank the country's birthrate. There was a remarkably significant tendency to postpone having children among economically disadvantaged and socially isolated families.This book provides a portrait of Japan's experience regarding the notable impacts of the pandemic on work and family life.