“The Full-Time Wife Escapist” shares what hinders women’s empowerment in Japan

“The Full-Time Wife Escapist,” or “We Married as a Job” (original title: “Nigeru ha Haji daga Yaku ni Tatsu”), became a social phenomenon in 2016. Many audiences, including me, thought it was merely one of the trendy romcoms. However, this drama was more than that. This TV series gave a fresh viewpoint to a society that struggles with women’s empowerment.

Mikuri Moriyama (Yui Aragaki), 25 years old with a Master of Arts degree, got laid off by a company where she worked as a temporary employee. While taking a break, she works as a housekeeper for bachelor Hiramasa Tsuzaki (Gen Hoshino) by chance, a system engineer in his mid-thirties. One day Mikuri, who needs stable paid work and a house to live in, offered him to make a “marriage contract.” They agree that having the contract benefits both and start their fake marriage life…

Housewives could earn JPY 3 million if household chores were compensated

What is surprising to most audiences must be that Mikuri gets paid for doing household chores. She estimates housewives could earn approximately JPY three million (USD 20,000) yearly if household chores were compensated.

In Japan, it is still common for married couples to have unequal relationships because of the deep-rooted gender roles; women do domestic chores, and men work outside the home. This idea brainwashes women to believe they live on their “husband’s” income and that they can’t live without a husband.

Mikuri and Hiramasa maintain their fair and equal relationship by monetizing their individual contributions. So, it is very natural for Mikuri to feel anger that she has to do household chores without getting paid when she is finally asked to marry him in the traditional sense.
“You are trying to exploit me by taking advantage of my love for you.”
This line might shed light on many women’s feelings of unfairness and give men some tips for a happier marriage.

A hidden story behind a successful businesswoman

Another interesting character in the drama is Mikuri’s aunt, Yuri Tsuchiya (played by Yuriko Ishida). Yuri is portrayed as a successful businesswoman in her late forties, but it turns out that she has sacrificed her marriage and having a child for a career. Nikkei ASIA reports that women currently occupy less than 8% of corporate management positions as of 2020.

It is indeed commonly observed that society and corporations take it for granted that successful women prefer to be single and have no kids, but at the same time, they also think women are supposed to be married and have kids. Yuri is the right character to represent women struggling to handle the many requests made of them, particularily because of her many sacrifices.

A sequel to the series (2021) focuses on more social issues, including women’s wellness. Mikuri and Hiramasa have new challenges regarding giving birth and raising a child, and Yuri is diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and so on. It has been six years since the first series came out. I don’t know whether it’s good or bad, but it is a fact that there are many topics that you may sympathize with and lessons you will newly learn.

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