Japan sees record share of late-life breakups; women seeking release from domination, abuse

Japan reports a record high of divorces among couples who had lived together for at least 20 years, reaching 24.2% in 2025 despite the total number of divorces declining. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare released final Vital Statistics on September 30, revealing that 179,073 divorces occurred in 2025, a decrease of 6,831 from the previous year's 185,904.

The share of late-life divorces rose by 0.4 percentage points from the year prior. A significant factor behind this trend is the increasing number of women seeking divorce, often citing incompatibility, lack of financial support, or mental abuse. Women aged 45 and older constitute more than half of female employees who are nonregular, while only half of those aged 25 to 44 hold regular jobs.

This economic insecurity has made women hesitant to end their marriages. Naoko Hayashi, a lawyer with experience in divorce cases, noted that many husbands in middle-aged and older generations force their wives to be full-time homemakers, often due to a mindset that resists wives having economic power or a voice. Social media's growth and heightened public awareness of domestic violence have led to more women questioning their situations and taking action.

Organizations like Gathering Against Doing Harm Again (GADHA) offer support to those involved in domestic violence, with Maniwa, a former abuser, recognizing his pattern of psychological abuse and the need for rehabilitation. Similarly, Hibino, another 50-something man, joined GADHA after his wife pressured him for a divorce, understanding that his actions stemmed from societal pressures and childhood experiences that shaped his belief in hierarchy and superiority.

GADHA aims to help abusers become people who can sustain sustainable relationships, acknowledging that many abuse patterns are rooted in internalized values of dominance and entitlement.