Sibling Configuration and the Transition to First Marriage in Japan

Suzumi Yasutake, Johns Hopkins University

A discrete-time competing risk hazard model is used to examine the timing of first marriage among men and women in Japan. This research focuses on family heir status-- the eldest sons (or daughters among female sibling)--defined by Japanese family system. I find that, both men and women, family heirs delay marriage compared to non-family heirs. Among them, only child delay marriage the most. Examination by the type of marriage revealed that family heirs enter into the first marriage by love later than non-family heirs, but there is no difference by arranged marriage. Male family heirs in recent birth cohort marry later than ones in old birth cohort, but there is not difference among women. Single people might be avoiding family heirs because of their responsibilities of care of elderly parents, maintaining their surnames and such. The study calls for further examination of social structure on marriage in Japan.