Japanese Features New Year Tradition puzzling practice Society and Customs

TV Commercials

Have you ever thought of what kind of TV commercials have you been exposed to during the new year's holidays?  In the USA, you probably see a lot of TV commercials selling what is related to exercise or diet.  Exercise machines, dietary goods, and even gym memberships are advertised probably because American people resolve to lose weight at the beginning of the new year.

Can you guess what TV commercials are common in Japan around this time of the year? The ads trend is related to some Japanese new year resolution.  However, it is mostly affected by pressure from parents.  Consider what pressure people get, especially singles, from their parents.

Yes, you are right!  During the new year's holidays, more TV commercials for marriage have been on than any other time of the year.  This is because family get together during this time.  Parents are given the very chance to see their children, even whom they do not see quite often due to living situations, and thus to encourage them to have a family.  Companies in line of marriage business understand this huge pressure singles get from their parents.  Therefore, companies aim at those who seriously start thinking about marriage.  Not in the least, marriage business in Japan is very lucrative.  Those companies would not miss such a wonderful chance to get customers, right?

We will later talk about how lucrative marriage business is in Japan.  Stay tuned!