General perception of the diversification of child-rearing environments in Japan

TL;DR

This study explores changing attitudes toward child-rearing in Japan, showing younger generations support shared parenting and new support systems.

Contribution

The paper provides new insights into generational differences in child-rearing norms in Japan and the potential of ICTs to support family roles.

Findings

Younger respondents in Japan support shared parental responsibilities and non-family involvement in child-rearing.

Older respondents prefer traditional family roles, highlighting intergenerational differences in child-rearing norms.

ICTs are seen as potential tools to reduce parenting burdens and privacy concerns in Japan.

Abstract

Understanding how child-rearing environments and family dynamics evolve in response to socioeconomic change and shifting cultural values is a central question in sociology. The Second Demographic Transition (SDT) framework explains many of these transformations in Western societies; however, its relevance to East Asia—particularly Japan—remains uncertain due to the region's distinctive family norms and institutional settings. In Japan, traditional family models continue to shape parenting and caregiving, creating unequal burdens on mothers despite recent institutional reforms. This study examines public normative attitudes toward diverse parenting practices in Japan, with a focus on normative orientations and intergenerational differences. Drawing on survey data from 579 respondents, the results indicate that younger generations are more open to shared parental responsibilities and the involvement of non-family actors, whereas older respondents adhere more strongly to traditional family roles. Attitudes toward the Child Care Commons (CCC)—a framework that envisions shared, network-based child-rearing—were largely supportive, although concerns persisted about parental responsibility and privacy. The findings suggest that value diversification in Japan has begun to reshape ideals of care, yet behavioral and institutional change remain limited. These patterns also suggest that normative differences in child-rearing are intertwined with perceived parenting burdens and role-based expectations, pointing to implications for parental wellbeing under existing institutional constraints. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) may help alleviate parenting burdens and privacy challenges, offering pathways toward more inclusive, flexible forms of family support. Achieving such change requires balancing technological innovation with enduring cultural norms—leveraging modern tools to sustain and enrich family relationships in Japan and East Asia.

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