Money matters in romantic relationships in Japan

Do you and your significant other see eye to eye on money matters? A new survey by Biz Hits of over 500 men and women in Japan found that a whopping 95.6% believe financial values directly affect romantic relationships, and for many of them, mismatches in spending habits were enough to make them question their future together.

Here are some of the key points from the research, which might be some food for thought for expats dating in Japan.

The number one behavior that turned people off was their partner spending big on games, especially mobile games, crane games, and other money-sink hobbies. That was followed by gambling (such as pachinko and horse racing) and spending beyond one's means, like splurging on luxury goods despite a tight income.

While overspending was seen as a problem, being too frugal wasn't appealing to respondents either. Survey participants mentioned feeling deflated when a partner split the bill down to the yen on a date, bought ultra-cheap birthday gifts, or skipped activities on vacation to save a few yen. It's a good reminder that being mindful of money can be attractive, but being stingy at the cost of connection is not.

Most people aren't upset by what their partner spends money on, but more often they're worried about what those choices say about the future. Things like not saving, spending impulsively, or having vastly different financial priorities can create a deep sense of misalignment.

It's probably a good reminder to chat about finances before you get into a committed relationship. Not the most romantic of topics, I know, but it can be good to know things like your partner's view on saving versus spending, whether they plan financially or live paycheck to paycheck, and how they balance spending on the "nice to haves" and the "need to haves".