| The Internet woods are thick with mail | | | | now a developed country, there are still |
| order brides from Russia, China, and the | | | | quite a few of Japanese women promoting |
| Philippines as well as dozens of third | | | | themselves as mail order brides on the |
| world countries. Nevertheless many men | | | | Internet. One advantage of Japan being a |
| prefer Japanese women they are thought | | | | developed country is that Japanese women |
| to make the best wives in the world. But | | | | are far less likely than women from |
| now that Japan is a developed nation, | | | | third world nations to marry only for |
| however, are mail order brides still | | | | economic reasons - that's right, you're |
| available from Japan? Well, yes - but | | | | may have to win her heart before she |
| not nearly in as great a number as | | | | will marry you! But hey, that should be |
| before. Ironically, the entire mail | | | | a good sign. The Western stereotype of |
| order bride phenomenon started out | | | | Japanese women as submissive handmaidens |
| decades ago with Japanese-American men | | | | is not necessarily true anymore, and |
| would write to their families back home | | | | that applies double to mail order |
| asking help in finding a Japanese bride | | | | brides. Because of the relatively low |
| (in fact, arranged marriages are not at | | | | status of women in Japanese society, a |
| all uncommon in Japan even today). The | | | | lot of Japanese women seek to marry |
| man's parents would find a candidate and | | | | Western men because they believe them to |
| the two would marry despite barely | | | | be less authoritarian than Japanese men. |
| knowing each other - they might even | | | | Yeah, it's also true that "traditional" |
| meet for the first time at the wedding. | | | | Japanese women are more submissive. But |
| The practice of arranged marriages - | | | | traditional women rarely marry foreign |
| marrying a bride you barely know, chosen | | | | men - after all, marrying a foreigner |
| by your parents - was the rule rather | | | | (and living overseas) is not a |
| than the exception in Japan until | | | | particularly traditional thing to do. |
| recently. Since at that time the US was | | | | Nevertheless, after living in Japan for |
| far richer than Japan, | | | | several years, I speak from experience |
| Japanese-Americans could easily find a | | | | when I say that Japanese women are by |
| bride from the Old Country - to marry | | | | and large quite caring and considerate |
| for economic reasons only was thought | | | | (and some of them are LOTS of fun!). If |
| quite normal. Due to the Western | | | | you are looking for a foreign bride, in |
| romantic tradition, this practice struck | | | | my opinion Japanese women are your best |
| most Americans as rather strange, and | | | | bet. |
| the term "mail order bride" came into | | | | The Mail Order Brides blog offers |
| being. These days quite a few American | | | | comprehensive information about |
| men are looking for a "mail order bride" | | | | Russian, Asian, and Latin American mail |
| from another country. There are a number | | | | order brides. |
| of reasons for this. Although Japan is | | | | |