In Japan’s Kozukai Tradition, Wives Manage Finances And Give Pocketmoney To Husbands

There was a common tradition in India, where husbands give their hard-earned income to the women in the house for the household chores. From bringing groceries to paying maids’ salaries, the women allocate the funds accordingly. This custom is still prevalent in many parts of India. You will be surprised to know that this custom is still followed in some other countries. In Japan, wives are in charge of money and they give pocket money to their husbands. They also take different steps to stop their husbands’ expenses. This tradition is also known as Kozukai in Japan.

According to a report, 74 percent of women in Japan manage the budget of households, while men only earn money. The report mentioned a 36-year-old Yoshihiro Nozawa, who used to give all his salary to his wife at the start of the month. After that, on the 15th of the month, his wife used to return him 30,000 yen as pocket money, which is equivalent to Rs 16,000.

The wife said that when she had two children, who were 6 and 8 years old, she decided to take responsibility for the household’s financial affairs and started managing the expenses herself. In Japan, this pocket money given to husbands is called kozukai. This tradition aims to curb the unnecessary expenses by the husbands and to promote productivity in men too.

According to reports, husbands in Japan give money to their wives for three reasons. The first is that in Japanese culture, men earn money while women are busy with household chores. Due to this, they are bestowed the responsibility of managing the household finances. The second reason is that giving the entire money fosters trust and transparency between the husband and wife in the marital relationship. This custom is also considered practical because when the wife is at home with the kids, she might need to spend money for the kid’s education, rations, and other things in the house.

In many parts of the world, men manage the budget of the house while women earn. Right management of funds is necessary to keep the house running and avoid debts.