THE JAPANESE TANSHIN FUNIN

This paper examines the tanshin funin, the Japanese commuter family. As a topic that has received little coverage in academia, this paper defines and explains the unique tanshin funin family structure that is found in Japan. Data were gathered from numerous sources, including interviews that were conducted in the Kansai region in 2000 and 2002, as well as secondary interviews and research that has been published by Japanese scholars and the media during the last two decades. First the absence of the tanshin funin from past family research is discussed, followed by the historical development of this family structure and the factors that enable and maintain its existence. The purpose of this paper is to recognize and explore the tanshin funin in Japan, as it is yet to be identified in Western academia.