"Most single mothers in Japan exist on less than half the national median income, the poverty line defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Their children are, on average, poorer, less educated and have fewer prospects — an underclass in a wealthy and aging nation that can ill-afford to lose a significant chunk of its future workforce. One in every seven children in Japan experiences poverty. Bloomberg, 25 Jun 2018.
This video report looks at the increasing number of single-parent families in Japan, the need for government support for them, the experiences of one mother, and the views of a woman who has started a support group for single parents. Channel News Asia, 5 Jun 2018.
This report looks at the stigma (negative views) towards single mothers in Japan, the relation with domestic violence and abuse of women, and the lack of welfare support and information for single mothers. Includes the story of of a single mother and the views of an activists and supporters helping single mothers. Aljazeera, 10 Sep, 2010.
This is a story about a single mother family who raises 4 children by herelf alone. She says her family is helped by governmment support. She works, takes care of children, does house-keeping and so on, so she is very busy every days. ABSテレビニュース, 27 Oct, 2021.
Appetite for Changes: Single mothers confront Japan’s hidden realities This article looks at the experiences of single mothers in Japan who are still married to the husbands through the stories of Tomoko Kaneko and Toniko Matinez, as well as the work of Little Ones a NPO that support single parent families. Metropolis, 28 Sep 2020.
The Plight of Japan’s Single Mothers The number of single mothers in Japan is on the rise, and half of all fatherless families fall below the poverty line. This article is good introduction to the situation of single mothers, connects this issue to growing income inequality for the working poor and gender inequality and the high price of motherhood in Japan. The second part of the article includes the stories of single mothers. Nippon.com, 24 Aug 2015.
Japan Is No Place for Single Mothers "The divorce rate has jumped 66 percent in recent decades, but women are ill-equipped financially to raise children alone." This is quite a long article that explains clearly, with useful data: why so many single mothers in Japan work but are in poverty; why single mothers receive so little support from ex-husbands after divorce; how welfare reforms has reduced support for single mothers; and how this negatively affects their children in education. It also has the stories of two single mothers, Miwa, who was divorced, and Mari who chose to raise a child by herself without getting married. The Atlantic, 7 Sep 2017.
ひとり親家庭で育った子どもの「心」 This webpage has many voices and stories of children who grown up in single parent families. This organization Single Kids Letters is runnning a crowd funding to make a book to tell the situation around single parent families to the society. Single's Kids Letters
ひとり親家庭からの声 This is a webpage having stories and voices of single parent families, sent to おてらおやつクラブ which is a NGO organization connecting single parent families and temples. おてらおやつクラブ.
ひとり親家庭の声を聞いてください。 This article has some stories and voices of single parent families. READYFOR, 29 Apr, 2021.
母子家庭育ちの男の子に聞いてみた|父親不在の影響って、正直どうですか？ This is an interview and survey result asked for boys who grown up in single mother families. Their thought of effect of growing up without father. あっとすくーる, 26 Jan, 2021.
父子家庭で育った20人の声！良かった事と大変だった事とは This articel has voices and stories of children who grown up in single father families. They have advantages and disadvanages. famico, 4 Mar, 2022.
Problems single mothers face in Japan This article gives a quick overview of the problems that single mothers in Japan have to do with including cultural issues and attitudes towards them. Zenbird, 29 March 2020.
In Japan, single mothers struggle with poverty and a ‘culture of shame’ The judgment and stigma that single mothers face in many countries are taken to another level in Japan, a homogeneous society where those who do not conform often try to hide their situations — even from their friends and wider family. Washington Post, 28 May 2017.
Appetite for Changes: Single mothers confront Japan’s hidden realities This article looks at the experiences of single mothers in Japan who are still married to the husbands through the stories of Tomoko Kaneko and Toniko Matinez, as well as the work of Little Ones a NPO that support single parent families. Metropolis, 28 Sep 2020.
Little Ones: This Japanese NPO is Ending Stigma Against Single Mothers In Japan’s conservative society, single motherhood is taboo – and consequently, single mothers often fall victim to poverty and social isolation. The culture of shame makes it difficult for them to find gainful employment, leading to financial uncertainty that, in turn, deters landlords from granting them tenancies. Founded in 2008 by Japanese social activist Kunihisa Koyama, Little Ones is an award-winning non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting single-parent families and raising awareness of children’s poverty. Hive Life, 8 Jun 2020.
The Plight of Japan’s Single Mothers The number of single mothers in Japan is on the rise, and half of all fatherless families fall below the poverty line. This article is good introduction to the situation of single mothers, connects this issue to growing income inequality for the working poor and gender inequality and the high price of motherhood in Japan. The second part of the article includes the stories of single mothers. Nippon.com, 24 Aug 2015.
Single Mothers in the Pandemic: Job Loss, Shrinking Incomes, and Scant Support This article looks at how working mothers have been hit particularly hard by job losses for workers in casual or part-time positions with low job security during the pandemic. This has heavily impacted the livelihoods of single-parent families, particularly single mothers. The article includes the stories of two women who lost their jobs. Nippon.com, 12 Feb 2021.
Japanese Survey Finds Single Mothers Need Proactive Support A survey has found that single mothers feel more isolated and think they have worse health than other parents. Nippon.com, 20 Apr 2021.
Japan Is No Place for Single Mothers "The divorce rate has jumped 66 percent in recent decades, but women are ill-equipped financially to raise children alone." This is quite a long article that explains clearly, with useful data: why so many single mothers in Japan work but are in poverty; why single mothers receive so little support from ex-husbands after divorce; how welfare reforms has reduced support for single mothers; and how this negatively affects their children in education. It also has the stories of two single mothers, Miwa, who was divorced, and Mari who chose to raise a child by herself without getting married. The Atlantic, 7 Sep 2017.
As Japanese poverty grows, support groups spring up to help single moms deal with harsh economy "With Japan increasingly aware of the child poverty problem in its midst, a growing number of businesses and nonprofit organizations are taking steps to help single mothers raising children alone. The help offered ranges from free consultations on legal matters like custody and alimony, to assistance searching for jobs and places to live." Japan Times, 22 Jun 2017.
Nationwide committee to support Japan's single moms to launch July 7 This article looks at the formation of Single Mother Support Dantai Zenkoku Kyogikai made up of 20 groups of single moms which will work with 44 child care support and anti-poverty organizations. It has comments from Chieko Akaishi, head of nonprofit organization Single Mothers Forum in Tokyo and includes some useful data and other information on the situation of single mothers in Japan. Mainichi, 6 Jul 2019.
Turning Tides for Single Mothers in Japan This article explains briefly that many single mothers in Japan are in poverty, and then looks at the group, Single Mother by Choice and at measures recently from national and local government to support single mothers. Borgen Project, 19 July 2018.
There's a new plan to tackle Japan's overhousing problem - give them to single mums Little Ones, based in Tokyo, was named a World Habitat Award winner on Thursday for converting vacant and abandoned houses into homes for single mothers at subsidised rates. World Economic Forum, 14 Dec 2018.
Single Mothers Forum / しんぐるまざあず・ふぉーらむ ひとり親のままと子を支援します。
認定NPO法人フローレンス ひとり親、待機児童問題、障害児保育・支援問題、貧困、虐待…私たちは子育てに関わる諸問題に取り組み続けています。