Japanese Government Classifies Refusing to Pay for Dates as Economic Violence

The Japanese government’s Gender Equality Bureau has formally categorized the refusal to cover dating expenses as a form of economic domestic violence. This inclusion appears on the bureau’s official website, which outlines four categories of abuse within dating relationships.

Defining Dating Violence

The government’s list defines “dating domestic violence” across four distinct areas:

• Physical violence: Includes striking, pulling hair, or throwing objects.
• Sexual violence: Encompasses coerced sex, refusal to use contraception, or nonconsensual recording.
• Psychological violence: Covers insulting remarks, isolating partners from friends, or monitoring communications.
• Economic violence: Involves behaviors such as refusing to pay back borrowed money, unauthorized bank withdrawals, preventing a partner from working, and refusing to pay for dating expenses.

While the bureau’s inclusion of theft or forced unemployment under economic violence aligns with common legal standards, the specific mention of “not paying for any dating expenses” has drawn criticism and confusion. In Japan, the practice of “warikan,” or splitting the bill, is common in casual dating, though it remains traditional for one partner to cover costs in many scenarios.

Public Reaction

The bureau’s stance gained attention after a social media post highlighted the classification, prompting widespread debate online. Responses varied significantly. Some users interpreted the guidelines as a mandate to ensure costs are shared, while others questioned if individuals who traditionally pay for their partners are inadvertently encouraging what the government labels abuse. Other commentators suggested the guidance implies that refusal to contribute financially is unacceptable regardless of gender.