A man in Japan is considering a career move after his wife has been assigned to work in New York. Typically in Japan, the husband often received transfers, but in this case, the situation is reversed. The husband's potential move embodies the changing dynamic of Japanese families when confronting work-life decisions. The decision also reflects the increasing trend of Japanese corporations pushing for more diverse workplaces overseas.
In Japan, societal norms have often favored the husband's career in terms of job transfers, implying that the wife would automatically follow regardless of her own career. However, recent trends reveal that this norm is changing. This is indicative of evolving gender roles, career achievements acknowledgment, and the consideration of life balance in the country.
In the United States or the European Union, it's common for spouses to follow each other for job posts, regardless of their gender. This concept, dubbed as 'trailing spouse', is pretty familiar. However, the expectation isn't as rigid, it largely depends on a couple's personal circumstances and choices. This change seen in Japan seems to be mirroring what has long been a practice in the West.