News in Easy English: Many parents in Japan cannot eat in peace

According to a recent survey, 32% of families in Japan with young children are not satisfied with their home meals. The survey was conducted by the Akachan-no-iru kurashi kenkyujo, a group established by a baby goods company in Osaka. The survey involved 1,218 mothers and fathers, all with children aged three years or younger.

Many parents prioritize their children's needs, often putting their own eating preferences aside. As a result, they may not enjoy their meals as much as they would like. Akiko Fukuda, the manager of the institute, said they had anticipated many parents would be unhappy with the types of food available for infants and toddlers, which tend to be lightly seasoned and soft. However, only 10% or so expressed dissatisfaction with the taste of the food they were served.

The survey also examined the distribution of household chores and childcare responsibilities among couples. Some families shared these tasks almost equally, with half of these couples giving their mealtime a high rating of 80 or above out of 100. When both parents perceived an equitable division of housework and child care, their overall happiness increased.

The group emphasized the importance of mutual support between partners in managing household tasks and childcare. Maho Ota and Haruna Oinuma, members of the group, noted that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to sharing responsibilities at home. They encouraged partners to learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses and work together to find a parenting style that both find comfortable.