ABSTRACT
A favourite topic of conversation in Japan is the question of what factors go towards creating a good marriage. The subject seems to hold great fascination for young and old alike, whether discussed from the standpoint of theoretical preferences or the practical details of a specific match. Nor is the interest merely academic. The sums of money associated with weddings and the establishment of a marriage are enormous, often representing the savings of years, and they seem to exceed by far the outlay expected for other ceremonial occasions. Over the centuries, various government attempts to limit such extravagence have met with little success. It was this apparently extraordinary interest in marriage which provided the inspiration for this book and I hope that the book in turn goes at least part of the way to explaining it.
