ACCORDING TO THE INSTITUTION OF ARRANGED MARRIAGES, SHE KNEW FROM...

20. According to the institution of arranged marriages, she knew from when she was a little girl that her parents,Mayumi’s grandparents, would choose a husband for her. Mayumi is both modern and traditional. She raisesher children to have Japanese manners. Her son, at 20 months of age, modestly bows his head with his handsfolded before every meal. Mayumi told us, “It is a way of showing respect for the family that provided thefood.The elder members of the family sit at the top of the Japanese family. In Japan, people who work hard tosupport the family are shown respect.” Mayumi can remember her brother coming home from work each nightbrother attended her wedding in Switzerland, he had to leave the very next day. On her wedding day, shedressed up in a kimono of beautiful Japanese fabric. Mayumi doesn‘t think about going back to live in Japan.