Abstract
The purpose of this article is to analyze the discussions criticizing the institution of marriage, and the consequent transformation, in Fujinkoron. It also aims to explain the transformation within the ideals of intimacy in contemporary Japanese society. The result of the analysis shows that an intimate relationship built on the basis of communication and commitment has become the new ideal in Japan. This gives rise to the question, "What is a relationship founded on communication and commitment ?". One development that demonstrates this is that between the 1970s and the 1990s, a relationship built on "the sex-role division" came to be rejected, and discussion of questions such as, "Passionate romantic love or marriage?" and "Is legal recognition necessary to lend significance to love between a man and a woman?" came to the fore in Fujinkoron. A relationship that neglects communication and commitment is rejected in the discourse that affirmatively supports marriage. However, such an ideal of love gives rise to uneasiness, because external anchors in the relationship are lost. Therefore, the definition of love which idealizes the "one-and-only" continues to exist in contemporary Japanese society to provide an escape from such uneasiness.
