The Diversity of Happiness: The Changing Shape of Families (Part 2)

In today's society, many people struggle with the dilemma of being constrained by traditional family structures and unable to choose a life that truly reflects who they are. Dentsu Inc. Diversity Lab (DDL), which advocates for new family structures called Life Units, and Ms. Kimura, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of AERA, who has covered diverse households and families for over a decade. To liberate individual minds and create a society where free choice is possible, there are things companies and media can do. Together, they discussed the future direction of society.

(From left) Keiko Kimura, Yoko Kodaira

We should equally recognize all choices

Kodaira: At DDL, we coined the term "life unit" to avoid being overly constrained by traditional notions of family and household. What was your initial reaction when you first heard it?

Kimura: For now, our magazine has titled it "New Forms of Family," but perhaps the word "family" itself is outdated. Its connotations tend to fixate on a certain image—like a nuclear family with two parents and children. "Life unit" seems a clear term for new households living together beyond gender or blood ties. If media takes the lead in using it, hopefully it'll become commonplace.

Kodaira: The word "family" (家族) is composed of "house" (家) and "clan" (族), so perhaps the concept of the individual wasn't really present there.

Kimura: To help people understand the meaning of "life unit," it would be great if it spread while also being supplemented with the idea of new family forms.

Kodaira: Through your reporting for Aera, what new family structures have left the strongest impression on you?

Kimura: Hmm... When women reach their late thirties and are still single, they start thinking deeply. I interviewed a single woman like this. She desperately wanted to raise a child and had been actively seeking a partner, but couldn't find the right person. Considering her age limit, she decided to use medical technology to have a child and took action.
Japan's legal framework isn't fully developed yet, so she faced many twists and turns and went through tremendous hardship. In the end, she was able to give birth to a child as she'd hoped. It was a shocking interview that made me realize, "Reality has already reached this point..."

Kodaira: Overseas, we're seeing more LGBT couples having children, and options like sperm donation and surrogacy are also developing, right?

Kimura: Medical interventions involving reproduction and genetics do raise ethical questions, so perhaps they require careful discussion. But technology has advanced so much—we already see single women freezing their eggs or opting for surrogacy abroad—yet politicians remain fixated on traditional marriage and family structures. I felt a sense of unease that reality is moving forward without proper discussion.

Kodaira: While those who can do this are probably a minority, there's likely a larger latent group harboring such hopes. They'd want to try if the systems and structures were in place.

Kimura: What struck me during this reporting is that quite a few people likely hold the fixed notion that "you can't be happy without children." While some women may have a strong instinct to give birth, there might also be underlying social pressure or an obsession with showing parents their grandchildren... Technology-enabled happiness is one option, but perhaps we should be free to explore different forms of happiness in the first place.

Whether someone lives out their later years with friends, enjoying their favorite work without a spouse or children, doesn't seem lonely at all. If they're truly enjoying life, isn't that enough? That's what we need – a society where the concept of life units takes hold, and such a way of living is recognized as an equally valid choice alongside marriage and having children. Japan hasn't quite reached that point yet, has it?

Kodaira: Back in the "loser's howl" era, there was this societal vibe that being unmarried and childless didn't necessarily equal happiness, right? But it felt somehow refreshingly straightforward.

Kimura: Women who lived through the bubble era back then still had the power to laugh it off. "We're single, but we earn our own living for life and don't have to worry about pleasing a husband." Even while mockingly calling themselves "losers," they actually seemed proud of themselves.
Today's women don't have the same income stability as back then. They face an uncertain future, and their feelings are much more poignant. Even when it comes to the topic of "childless harassment," both those with children and those without feel awkward and sensitive. It's something we at AERA struggle with when crafting our taglines.

What consumers are watching is a company's stance toward diversity

Kodaira: What do you think media and companies need to do to keep pace with the rapidly advancing diversity in reality?

Kimura: Media and public figures shape societal attitudes, so their stance is crucial. They must avoid communicating based on outdated values and strive not to lean toward either the majority or minority. Consumer trends are also gradually shifting from the past.

People aren't just evaluating products themselves anymore. They think, "I want to buy this because it's made by a cool company," or "I want to work there because their corporate culture is awesome." A product might be amazing, but if the company has a rigid, old-fashioned structure, it won't be valued. Even if they try to cover it up with ads, the cracks show online these days. If the values of life units permeate among young consumers, I feel companies that take progressive initiatives and send fair messages will thrive.

For example, some companies now hold job fairs specifically for LGBT individuals. Even if you're not part of that community yourself, wouldn't you trust a company that can be flexible and not just cater to the masses? We in the media are also increasingly covering not just hit products, but the companies' stances themselves.

Kodaira: Both companies and media find it more efficient to target the masses. But everyone has minority elements within themselves. That's why we can relate to companies that embrace diversity. I agree.

Blood ties, marriage, partners, or friends—any of these can form the basis of a life unit.

Kimura: But what exactly does "the masses" mean in modern society? Single-person households now make up a significant portion of society. They're steadily increasing in reality, yet outdated concepts still seem to view two-parent households as the majority, while singles and single parents are seen as minorities. Conveying that reality is also our role.

Kodaira: By the way, are there any life units you're particularly watching, Kimura? Ones that seem poised to gain social influence?

Kimura: Given my own age, I'm particularly interested in life units at the next stage of parenting. I wonder if the unit of a married couple is truly necessary for life after children become independent.
There are actually people who, even with a spouse, travel or live with friends, not relying on the closed community of a married couple. Even if it doesn't go as far as a late-life divorce, having various connections seems more enjoyable.

Kodaira: Perhaps it's okay for the person you're with to change as your life stage changes. Issues like elderly people living alone and end-of-life care are becoming serious now. If we could free ourselves from the concept of spending our entire lives only with our spouse, the way we approach old age might change too.

Kimura: If we could form communities to share our remaining years with, or life units for the next stage of life, well before we become incapacitated, that might serve as a safety net.
Looking at social media now, many people have multiple communities beyond just family and work, like hobbies or alumni groups, right? I feel like these loose horizontal connections could evolve into life units.

Kodaira: How should we proceed with the Life Unit Project going forward?

Kimura: We in the media tend to focus on striking, rare cases to grab attention, but the Life Unit Project isn't about promoting any particular unusual lifestyle.
Traditional two-parent households or stay-at-home spouses are perfectly fine too, as long as the individuals involved are happy. We want everyone to be able to freely choose the path they want.

Furudaira: We introduce lesser-known cases and showcase diverse ways of living. Through this awareness, people can reaffirm the merits of traditional family structures and blood ties, while also recognizing the value of alternative lifestyles. Let's sow the seeds to create spaces for collective reflection.

<End>