<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en-gb" lang="en-gb"><head>
  <base href="/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan"/>
  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/>
  <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"/>
  <meta name="keywords" content="Japan Divorce Ceremony"/>
  <meta name="title" content="Divorce Ceremonies Take off in Japan"/>
  <meta name="author" content="Vitri"/>
  <meta name="description" content="Divorce ceremonies take off in Japan.

With a sky-rocketing divorce rate, the Japanese have come up with a unique solution to the delicate issue of ending a marriage."/>
  <meta name="generator" content="Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management"/>
  <title>Divorce Ceremonies Take off in Japan</title>
  <link href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=1734&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Divorce Ceremonies Take off in Japan"/>
  <link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/com_jcomments/tpl/default/style.cssv=10" type="text/css"/>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/modules/mod_jflanguageselection/tmpl/mod_jflanguageselection.css" type="text/css"/>
  <script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/js/jcomments-v2.1.jsv=2"></script>
  <script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/libraries/joomlatune/ajax.js"></script>
  <script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/mootools.js"></script>
  <script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/caption.js"></script>
  <script src="/plugins/content/1pixelout/audio-player.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
  <script type="text/javascript" src="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<link type="text/css" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.css" rel="stylesheet"/>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/themes/vauxite/style.css" type="text/css" media="screen"/>


<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/editor.css" type="text/css"/>

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/typo.css" type="text/css"/>

<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/templates/ja_vauxite/js/ja.script.js"></script>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
	var siteurl = '/';
	var tmplurl = '/templates/ja_vauxite';
</script>


<!-- Menu head -->
			<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>
			<script src="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script>
			<link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/template.css" type="text/css"/>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/colors/red.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>

<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {height: 1%;}
img {border: none;}
#ja-cpanel-tools{
	filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(enabled=true, src=../images/ja-cpanel-switcher.png, sizingMethod=image);
}
</style>
<![endif]-->

<!--[if gte IE 7.0]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display: inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->


<!--[if gt IE 7]>
<link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/ie8.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
<![endif]-->

<script type="text/javascript">
	function resetall () {
		createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_color','red', 365);
		createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_layout','leftlayout', 365);
		createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_screen','wide', 365); 
		createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_modfunc',0, 365); 
		createCookie('ja-ordercolumn','-', 365);
		createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_font',3, 365); 
		window.location.reload();
	}
</script>
</head>

<body id="bd" class="leftlayout wide fs3">
<a name="Top" id="Top"></a>
<ul class="accessibility">
	<li><a href="/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japanlang=en" title="Skip to content">Skip to content</a></li>
	<li><a href="/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japanlang=en" title="Skip to main navigation">Skip to main navigation</a></li>
	<li><a href="/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japanlang=en" title="Skip to 1st column">Skip to 1st column</a></li>
	<li><a href="/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japanlang=en" title="Skip to 2nd column">Skip to 2nd column</a></li>
</ul>

<!-- BEGIN: HEADER -->
<div id="ja-headerwrap">
<div id="ja-header" class="clearfix">

      
		<h1 class="logo">
		<a href="/index.php" title="AsiaCalling"><span>AsiaCalling</span></a>
	</h1>
	
	<div id="ja-search">
		<div id="jflanguageselection"><div class="rawimages"><span><a href="/in/berita/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/in.gif" alt="Indonesian (ID)" title="Indonesian (ID)"/></a></span><span id="active_language"><a href="/en/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/en.gif" alt="English (United Kingdom)" title="English (United Kingdom)"/></a></span><span><a href="/bn/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/bn.gif" alt="Bengali(Bangladesh)" title="Bengali(Bangladesh)"/></a></span></div></div><!--Joom!fish V2.0.2 ()-->
<!-- &copy; 2003-2009 Think Network, released under the GPL. -->
<!-- More information: at http://www.joomfish.net -->

	</div>

</div>
</div>
<!-- END: HEADER -->

<!-- BEGIN: MAIN NAVIGATION -->
<div id="ja-mainnavwrap">
<div id="ja-mainnav" class="clearfix">
	<div id="jasdl-mainnav"><ul><li id="jasdl-mainnav248"><a href="/" class="menu-item0 first-item" id="menu248" title="Home"><span class="menu-title">Home</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav202"><a href="/en/news" class="menu-item1 active" id="menu202" title="News"><span class="menu-title">News</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav359"><a href="/en/special-reports" class="menu-item2" id="menu359" title="Special Reports"><span class="menu-title">Special Reports</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav181"><a href="/en/podcast" class="menu-item3" id="menu181" title="Podcast"><span class="menu-title">Podcast</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav176"><a href="/en/tune-in" class="menu-item4" id="menu176" title="Tune In"><span class="menu-title">Tune In</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav206"><a href="/en/links" class="menu-item5" id="menu206" title="Links"><span class="menu-title">Links</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav166"><a href="/en/about-us" class="menu-item6" id="menu166" title="About Us"><span class="menu-title">About Us</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav471"><a href="/en/learn-english" class="menu-item7" id="menu471" title="Learn English"><span class="menu-title">Learn English</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav390"><a href="/en/archives" class="menu-item8" id="menu390" title="Archives"><span class="menu-title">Archives</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav492"><a href="/en/asia-forum" class="menu-item9 last-item" id="menu492" title="Asia Calling Forum"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Forum</span></a></li></ul></div>
				<script type="text/javascript">
					var jasdl_activemenu = new Array(202,442);
				</script>
				</div>
</div>

<div id="ja-subnavwrap">
<div id="ja-subnav" class="clearfix">
	<div id="jasdl-subnav"><ul id="jasdl-subnav202"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem263"><a href="/en/news/indonesia" class=" first-item" id="menu263" title="Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem445"><a href="/en/news/timor-leste" id="menu445" title="Timor Leste"><span class="menu-title">Timor Leste</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem443"><a href="/en/news/north-korea" id="menu443" title="North Korea"><span class="menu-title">North Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem442"><a href="/en/news/japan" class=" active" id="menu442" title="Japan"><span class="menu-title">Japan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem441"><a href="/en/news/nepal" id="menu441" title="Nepal"><span class="menu-title">Nepal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem436"><a href="/en/news/malaysia" id="menu436" title="Malaysia"><span class="menu-title">Malaysia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem382"><a href="/en/news/thailand" id="menu382" title="Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem380"><a href="/en/news/philippines" id="menu380" title="Philippines"><span class="menu-title">Philippines</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem384"><a href="/en/news/vietnam" id="menu384" title="Vietnam"><span class="menu-title">Vietnam</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem385"><a href="/en/news/cambodia" id="menu385" title="Cambodia"><span class="menu-title">Cambodia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem204"><a href="/en/news/china" id="menu204" title="China"><span class="menu-title">China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem378"><a href="/en/news/south-korea" id="menu378" title="South Korea"><span class="menu-title">South Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem372"><a href="/en/news/sri-lanka" id="menu372" title="Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem379"><a href="/en/news/afghanistan" id="menu379" title="Afghanistan"><span class="menu-title">Afghanistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem386"><a href="/en/news/pakistan" id="menu386" title="Pakistan"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem377"><a href="/en/news/bangladesh" id="menu377" title="Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem374"><a href="/en/news/india" id="menu374" title="India"><span class="menu-title">India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem373"><a href="/en/news/burma" id="menu373" title="Burma"><span class="menu-title">Burma</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem387"><a href="/en/news/australia" id="menu387" title="Australia"><span class="menu-title">Australia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem420"><a href="/en/news/laos" id="menu420" title="Laos"><span class="menu-title">Laos</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem388"><a href="/en/news/others" id="menu388" title="Others"><span class="menu-title">Others</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem485"><a href="/en/news/quiz" class=" last-item" id="menu485" title="Quiz"><span class="menu-title">Quiz</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav359"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem500"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-migrant-workers" class=" first-item" id="menu500" title="Indonesia Migrant Workers"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Migrant Workers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem499"><a href="/en/special-reports/sex-workers-stories-from-across-asia" id="menu499" title="Sex workers stories from across asia"><span class="menu-title">Sex workers stories from across asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem498"><a href="/en/special-reports/indian-music-rocks-the-world" id="menu498" title="Indian music rocks the world"><span class="menu-title">Indian music rocks the world</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem491"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-circle-of-violence-in-khasmir" id="menu491" title="A Circle of Violence in Khasmir"><span class="menu-title">A Circle of Violence in Khasmir</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem490"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-rare-glimpse-inside-bangladesh-tea-estates" id="menu490" title="A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates"><span class="menu-title">A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem488"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-burma-ahead-of-the-election" id="menu488" title="Inside Burma Ahead of the Election"><span class="menu-title">Inside Burma Ahead of the Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem486"><a href="/en/special-reports/private-security-a-booming-industry-in-asia" id="menu486" title="Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem484"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-ties-with-china" id="menu484" title="North Korea’s ties with China"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s ties with China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem483"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-in-kerala-india" id="menu483" title="Life in Kerala India"><span class="menu-title">Life in Kerala India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem482"><a href="/en/special-reports/dying-for-music-in-pakistans-frontier-province" id="menu482" title="Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province"><span class="menu-title">Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem481"><a href="/en/special-reports/desperate-nurses-in-bangladesh" id="menu481" title="Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem480"><a href="/en/special-reports/nepal-feels-the-heat-of-climate-change" id="menu480" title="Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change"><span class="menu-title">Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem479"><a href="/en/special-reports/shangrila-made-in-china" id="menu479" title="Shangrila Made in China"><span class="menu-title">Shangrila Made in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem478"><a href="/en/special-reports/burmas-controversial-election" id="menu478" title="Burma’s Controversial Election"><span class="menu-title">Burma’s Controversial Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem477"><a href="/en/special-reports/after-the-war-the-hard-work-begins-in-sri-lanka" id="menu477" title="After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem458"><a href="/en/special-reports/bangladesh-battles-its-past-and-future" id="menu458" title="Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem455"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-laos-the-battery-of-south-east-asia-" id="menu455" title="Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia"><span class="menu-title">Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem453"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-amazon-of-the-sea-under-threat" id="menu453" title="The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat"><span class="menu-title">The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem454"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-citarum-river" id="menu454" title="Indonesia Citarum River"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Citarum River</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem450"><a href="/en/special-reports/last-tango-in-tokyo-for-japanese-migrants" id="menu450" title="Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants"><span class="menu-title">Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem449"><a href="/en/special-reports/on-vietnams-coast-bigger-is-betteror-is-it" id="menu449" title="On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?"><span class="menu-title">On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem448"><a href="/en/special-reports/kashmirs-cultural-revival-" id="menu448" title="Kashmir’s Cultural Revival"><span class="menu-title">Kashmir’s Cultural Revival</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem447"><a href="/en/special-reports/rohingya-journey" id="menu447" title="Rohingya Journey"><span class="menu-title">Rohingya Journey</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem446"><a href="/en/special-reports/dreamtime-wisdom-and-modern-vision-of-aboriginal" id="menu446" title="Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal"><span class="menu-title">Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem431"><a href="/en/special-reports/living-with-nature" id="menu431" title="Living with nature"><span class="menu-title">Living with nature</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem430"><a href="/en/special-reports/education-in-south-thailand-engulfed-in-fear" id="menu430" title="Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear"><span class="menu-title">Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem429"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threat-the-impact-of-climate-change" id="menu429" title="Earth under threat: the impact of climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat: the impact of climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem428"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threatsolutions-to-slow-climate-change" id="menu428" title="Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem427"><a href="/en/special-reports/mindanao-muddle-insight-into-the-conflict" id="menu427" title="Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict"><span class="menu-title">Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem426"><a href="/en/special-reports/changing-cambodia-the-winners-and-losers" id="menu426" title="Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers"><span class="menu-title">Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem432"><a href="/en/special-reports/inspiring-women" id="menu432" title="Inspiring Women"><span class="menu-title">Inspiring Women</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem424"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-unsung-heros-of-burmas-cyclone-relief-effort" id="menu424" title="The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort"><span class="menu-title">The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem425"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-rising-price-of-food-across-asia-what-has-gone-wrong" id="menu425" title="The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong"><span class="menu-title">The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem421"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-frontline-victims-of-the-war-on-terror" id="menu421" title="The frontline victims of the war on terror"><span class="menu-title">The frontline victims of the war on terror</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem422"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-murky-world-of-coal-mining-in-china" id="menu422" title="The murky world of coal mining in China"><span class="menu-title">The murky world of coal mining in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem423"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-on-the-border-exile-burmese-in-thailand" id="menu423" title="Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem501"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesias-mega-food-estate" id="menu501" title="Indonesia's Mega Food Estate"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia's Mega Food Estate</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem502"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-heir-apparent" id="menu502" title="North Korea’s Heir apparent"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s Heir apparent</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem504"><a href="/en/special-reports/pakistan-eunuchs-finally-recognized-as-citizens" class=" last-item" id="menu504" title="Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav181"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem496"><a href="/en/podcast/january-december-2011" class=" first-item" id="menu496" title="January - December 2011"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2011</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem452"><a href="/en/podcast/january-september-2010" id="menu452" title="January - December 2010"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2010</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem451"><a href="/en/podcast/oktober-desember-2009" id="menu451" title="Oktober - Desember 2009"><span class="menu-title">Oktober - Desember 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem444"><a href="/en/podcast/july-september-2009" id="menu444" title="July - September 2009"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem439"><a href="/en/podcast/april-june-2009" id="menu439" title="April - June 2009"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem396"><a href="/en/podcast/podcast" id="menu396" title="January - March 2009"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem404"><a href="/en/podcast/oktober-desember-2008" id="menu404" title="October - December 2008"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem405"><a href="/en/podcast/july-september-2008" id="menu405" title="July - September 2008"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem406"><a href="/en/podcast/april-june-2008" id="menu406" title="April - June 2008"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem407"><a href="/en/podcast/january-march-2008" id="menu407" title="January - March 2008"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem408"><a href="/en/podcast/october-december-2007" id="menu408" title="October - December 2007"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem412"><a href="/en/podcast/july-september-2007" id="menu412" title="July - September 2007"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem413"><a href="/en/podcast/april-june-2007" class=" last-item" id="menu413" title="April - June 2007"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2007</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav176"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem177"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-asia" class=" first-item" id="menu177" title="Stations in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem178"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-indonesia" class=" last-item" id="menu178" title="Stations in Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Indonesia</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav166"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem167"><a href="/en/about-us/asia-calling-a-kbr68h" class=" first-item" id="menu167" title="Asia Calling &amp; KBR68H"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling &amp; KBR68H</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem168"><a href="/en/about-us/producers" id="menu168" title="Producers"><span class="menu-title">Producers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem169"><a href="/en/about-us/correspondents" id="menu169" title="Correspondents"><span class="menu-title">Correspondents</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem370"><a href="/en/about-us/media-development" id="menu370" title="Media Development"><span class="menu-title">Media Development</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem495"><a href="/en/about-us/partner-station" class=" last-item" id="menu495" title="Regional Partners"><span class="menu-title">Regional Partners</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav471"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem472"><a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now" class=" first-item" id="menu472" title="Learn Now!"><span class="menu-title">Learn Now!</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem497"><a href="http://www.radioforeducation.org/" target="_blank" class=" last-item" id="menu497" title="Blog: radioforeducation.org"><span class="menu-title">Blog: radioforeducation.org</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav492"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem493"><a href="/en/asia-forum/asia-forum-2010" class=" first-item" id="menu493" title="Asia Forum 2010"><span class="menu-title">Asia Forum 2010</span></a></li></ul></div></div>
</div>
<!-- END: MAIN NAVIGATION -->

<div id="ja-containerwrap-m" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-container" class="clearfix">

	<!-- BEGIN: CONTENT -->
	<div id="ja-content">

			

			<div id="ja-current-content">
								<div class="ja-wrap-center"><div class="ja-wrap-top"><div class="ja-wrap-bot">
				
    			    			<div id="ja-pathway">
    				<span class="breadcrumbs pathway">
<a href="/" class="pathway">Home</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news" class="pathway">News</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news/japan" class="pathway">Japan</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> Divorce Ceremonies Take off in Japan</span>

    			</div>
    							
          
<h2 class="contentheading">
			Divorce Ceremonies Take off in Japan	</h2>


<div class="article-toolswrap">
<div class="article-tools clearfix">
	<div class="article-meta">
			<span class="createdate">
			Saturday, 27 November 2010 20:07		</span>
		
			<span class="createby">
			Mark Willacy Radio Australia		</span>
		
		</div>

		<div class="buttonheading">
								<span>
			<a href="/en/component/mailto/tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hc2lhY2FsbGluZy5vcmcvZW4vbmV3cy9qYXBhbi8xNzM0LWRpdm9yY2UtY2VyZW1vbmllcy10YWtlLW9mZi1pbi1qYXBhbg==" title="E-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','width=400,height=350,menubar=yes,resizable=yes'); return false;"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/emailButton.png" alt="E-mail"/></a>			</span>
					
						<span>
			<a href="/en/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;layout=default&amp;page=" title="Print" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/printButton.png" alt="Print"/></a>			</span>
				
						<span>
			<a href="/en/news/japan/1734-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan?format=pdf" title="PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/pdf_button.png" alt="PDF"/></a>			</span>
						</div>
	
	</div>
</div>


<div class="article-content">
<div id="jabookmarkWapper"></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><img src="/images/stories/demo/ac/japan_divorce_web_101127.jpg" class="caption" align="left"/></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="1pixelout"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="plugins/content/1pixelout/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" height="24" width="200">
		<param name="movie" value="/plugins/content/1pixelout/player.swf"/>
		<param name="FlashVars" value="bg=0xf8f8f8&amp;leftbg=0xeeeeee&amp;lefticon=0x666666&amp;rightbg=0xE8E8E8&amp;rightbghover=0x999999&amp;righticon=0x666666&amp;righticonhover=0x666666&amp;text=0x666666&amp;slider=0x666666&amp;track=0x666666&amp;border=0x666666&amp;loader=0x666666&amp;loop=yes&amp;playerID=1&amp;soundFile=/images/podcast/Data_271110/Japan_Divorce_Ceremony_FINAL_bhs_inggris_101127.mp3"/>
		<param name="quality" value="high"/>
		<param name="menu" value="false"/>
		<param name="wmode" value="transparent"/>
		</object>
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="/en/component/docman/doc_download/717-divorce-ceremonies-take-off-in-japan"><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde; color: #ff6600;">Download</span></a> Divorce ceremonies take off in Japan.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>With a sky-rocketing divorce rate, the Japanese have come up with a unique solution to the delicate issue of ending a marriage.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Canny entrepreneurs are now conducting 'divorce ceremonies', allowing couples to formally end their time together in front of family and friends. </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>From toasts to never seeing each other again to smashing rings, the ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mark Willacy of Radio Australia has the story.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><br/></strong></p>



<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">With one smooth swing of a hammer, Miho and Hiroshi's seven year marriage was torn asunder.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That hurts murmurs Miho, removing her hand from the hammer's grip.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Watching their divorce ceremony is a handful of friends, there to witness the unhappy couple untie the knot of matrimony.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Reprising his role at their wedding, the best man is there to offer a few, somewhat stilted words.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"Congratulations on your divorce" he says. "When I first heard about it I was surprised. But whatever happens from here on in I'd like to help you both" he says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Conducting today's ceremony is former salesman turned divorce planner Hiroki Terai.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"In the beginning when I started these ceremonies I felt a bit sad" Terai tells me.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"But now some of the guests come up to me and say that the divorce ceremony is more touching than the original wedding" he says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Divorce is one of the few growth industries in Japan, with a quarter of a million Japanese tearing up their wedding vows every year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">But it's still very much a taboo subject. However some see these ceremonies as an acceptable way to break the bad news to family and friends.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Hiroshi and Miho were married seven years ago but financial pressures and personality differences took their toll.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"Today, honestly, I didn't think I'd ever see you all together this way", Hiroshi tells his friends at his divorce ceremony. "We decided to get a divorce, but it's a peaceful divorce. Well, actually it's a lie to say it was a 100 per cent peaceful divorce" he admits.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">After the ceremony comes the singing. At a nearby tea house the group listens to some traditional music. The atmosphere among the guests is stiff and silent.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"I was forced to come today" admits Miho. "But after the divorce ceremony I feel a little refreshed" she says. "When we smashed the ring I felt sad, but I want to be positive from now on" she says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"I feel better, more refreshed", says her now former husband Hiroshi. "We didn't talk much before signing the divorce papers, but I hope we can remain friends after this. Maybe, maybe not" he says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"The image of divorce in Japan is changing" says divorce ceremony planner Hiroki Terai. "Divorce is no longer something to be totally ashamed of. In fact I'm confident this practice of making a vow of a new start in front of family and friends will become more popular" he says.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So entrepreneurs like Hiroki Terai are hoping to cash in on couples saying - 'I do' - to divorce.</p></div>

	<span class="modifydate">
		Last Updated ( Monday, 29 November 2010 11:21 )
	</span>

<span class="article_separator">&nbsp;</span>
<script type="text/javascript">
var jcomments=new JComments(1734, 'com_content','index.php?option=com_jcomments&amp;tmpl=component&amp;lang=');
jcomments.setList('comments-list');
</script>
<div id="jc">
<div id="comments"><div class="comments-list" id="comments-list-0"></div>
</div>
<h4>Add comment</h4>
<a id="addcomments" href="#addcomments"></a>
<form id="comments-form" name="comments-form" action="javascript:void(null);">
<div class="comments-policy">Asia Calling House Rules for Comments:<br/>We reserve the right to fail messages that:<br/>· Are likely to provoke, attack or offend others<br/>· Are racist, homophobic or sexists or otherwise objectionable<br/>· Contain swear words or other language likely to offend<br/>· Break the law or encourage illegal behavior<br/>· Include contact details including number or email address<br/>· Are considered to be advertising or promoting a product or SPAM<br/>· Are considered off-topic</div>
<p>
	<input id="comments-form-name" type="text" name="name" value="" maxlength="20" size="22" tabindex="1"/>
	<label for="comments-form-name">Name (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
	<input id="comments-form-email" type="text" name="email" value="" size="22" tabindex="2"/>
	<label for="comments-form-email">E-mail (required)</label>
</p>
<p>
	<input id="comments-form-homepage" type="text" name="homepage" value="" size="22" tabindex="3"/>
	<label for="comments-form-homepage">Website</label>
</p>
<p>
	<textarea id="comments-form-comment" name="comment" cols="65" rows="8" tabindex="5"></textarea>
</p>
<p>
	<input class="checkbox" id="comments-form-subscribe" type="checkbox" name="subscribe" value="1" tabindex="5"/>
	<label for="comments-form-subscribe">Notify me of follow-up comments</label><br/>
</p>
<p>
	<img class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');" id="comments-form-captcha-image" name="captcha-image" src="/index.phpoption=com_jcomments&task=captcha&tmpl=component&ac=74132" width="120" height="60" alt="Security code"/><br/>
	<span class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');">Refresh</span><br/>
	<input class="captcha" id="comments-form-captcha" type="text" name="captcha-refid" value="" size="5" tabindex="6"/><br/>
</p>
<div id="comments-form-buttons">
	<div class="btn" id="comments-form-send"><div><a href="#" tabindex="7" onclick="jcomments.saveComment();return false;" title="Send (Ctrl+Enter)">Send</a></div></div>
	<div class="btn" id="comments-form-cancel" style="display:none;"><div><a href="#" tabindex="8" onclick="return false;" title="Cancel">Cancel</a></div></div>
	<div style="clear:both;"></div>
</div>
	<input type="hidden" name="object_id" value="1734"/>
	<input type="hidden" name="object_group" value="com_content"/>
</form>

<script type="text/javascript">
function JCommentsInitializeForm()
{
	var jcEditor = new JCommentsEditor('comments-form-comment', true);
	jcEditor.addButton('b','Bold','Enter text');
	jcEditor.addButton('i','Italic','Enter text');
	jcEditor.addButton('u','Underlined','Enter text');
	jcEditor.addButton('s','Striked','Enter text');
	jcEditor.addButton('img','Image','Enter full URL to the image');
	jcEditor.addButton('url','Link','Enter full URL');
	jcEditor.addButton('quote','Quote','Enter text to quote');
	jcEditor.initSmiles('/components/com_jcomments/images/smiles');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':D','laugh.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':lol:','lol.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':-)','smile.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(';-)','wink.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile('8)','cool.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':-|','normal.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':-*','whistling.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':oops:','redface.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':sad:','sad.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':cry:','cry.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':o','surprised.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':-?','confused.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':-x','sick.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':eek:','shocked.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':zzz','sleeping.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':P','tongue.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':roll:','rolleyes.gif');
	jcEditor.addSmile(':sigh:','unsure.gif');
	jcEditor.addCounter(1000, '', ' symbols left', 'counter');
	jcomments.setForm(new JCommentsForm('comments-form', jcEditor));
}
setTimeout(JCommentsInitializeForm, 100);
</script>
<div id="comments-footer" align="center"><a href="http://www.joomlatune.com/" title="JComments" target="_blank">JComments</a></div>
<script type="text/javascript">
jcomments.setAntiCache(1,0,0);
</script> 
</div>
          
        </div></div></div>
        
        <!-- BEGIN: JAZIN -->
                <!-- END: JAZIN -->
      </div>
      		
  		          
	</div>
	<!-- END: CONTENT -->
	
		<!-- BEGIN: COLUMNS -->
	<div id="ja-colwrap">

				<!-- BEGIN: MASSCOL -->
		<div id="ja-colmass" class="clearfix">
		  		<div class="module_nobox">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<form action="index.php" method="post">
	<div class="search_nobox">
		<input type="submit" value="Search" class="button_nobox" onclick="this.form.searchword.focus();"/><input name="searchword" id="mod_search_searchword" maxlength="46" alt="Search" class="inputbox_nobox" type="text" size="46" value="search..." onblur="if(this.value=='') this.value='search...';" onfocus="if(this.value=='search...') this.value='';"/>	</div>
	<input type="hidden" name="task" value="search"/>
	<input type="hidden" name="option" value="com_search"/>
</form>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module_blank">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;" align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="/en/component/podcast/view=feed&format=raw" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/podcast.jpg" title="Podcast" width="146" border="0" height="103"/></a> &nbsp; <a href="http://www.ppmn.or.id/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/ppmn_logo.jpg" width="152" border="0" height="104"/></a> &nbsp;</div>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
													<h3>Special Reports</h3>
											<table border="0" height="71" width="291">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><strong style="color: #000033;"><a href="/en/special-reports/indian-music-rocks-the-world">Indian music rocks the world</a></strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><strong style="color: #000033;"><a href="/en/special-reports/sex-workers-stories-from-across-asia">Sex workers stories from across asia</a></strong></span><strong style="color: #000033;"><br/></strong></li>
<li><strong style="color: #000033;">&nbsp;</strong><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><strong style="color: #000033;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-migrant-workers">Geting ready for a tough job: Indonesia Migrant Workers</a></strong></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde; color: #000000;"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesias-mega-food-estate">Indonesia's Mega Food Estate</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde; color: #000000;">&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-heir-apparent">North Korea's Heir apparent</a></span></strong></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde; color: #000000;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/special-reports/pakistan-eunuchs-finally-recognized-as-citizens">Pakistan Eunuch finally recognized as citizen</a><br/></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-decoration: none;">
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module_blank">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kbr68h.com/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/kbr68h_logo.jpg" width="158" border="0" height="70"/></a>&nbsp; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.greenradio.fm/"><img src="/images/stories/greenfm_logobaru.jpg" width="145" height="69"/></a></div>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module_blank">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<div align="center">
<div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="/in/berita/quiz"><img src="/images/stories/quiz-icon.gif" border="0"/></a></div>
</div>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.radioforeducation.org/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/learning_english_ascall.jpg" title="Learning English and Using the News with Asia Calling" border="0"/></a></div>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
			<div class="module">
			<div>
				<div>
					<div>
											<div class="ja-tabswrap vauxite" style="width:100%;">	<div id="myTab-1428374937" class="container">	<div class="ja-tabs-title-top" style="height:30px;">			
								<ul class="ja-tabs-title"><li title="1607"><h3><span>This week on Asia Calling</span></h3></li></ul>
							</div>						
							<div class="ja-tab-panels-top"><div class="ja-tab-content">
							<div class="ja-tab-subcontent"><table style="height: 340px; width: 314px;" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div align="justify"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>
<div   classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></div>
<![endif]--> <!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:""; 	margin:0cm; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink 	{color:blue; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed 	{color:purple; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} p.first, li.first, div.first 	{mso-style-name:first; 	mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0cm; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0cm; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 	{size:612.0pt 792.0pt; 	margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; 	mso-header-margin:36.0pt; 	mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:""; 	margin:0cm; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 	{size:612.0pt 792.0pt; 	margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; 	mso-header-margin:36.0pt; 	mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face 	{font-family:Calibri; 	panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:swiss; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:""; 	margin-top:0cm; 	margin-right:0cm; 	margin-bottom:10.0pt; 	margin-left:0cm; 	line-height:115%; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:11.0pt; 	font-family:Calibri; 	mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; 	mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-ansi-language:EN-US; 	mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 	{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; 	margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; 	mso-header-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:""; 	margin:0cm; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p 	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0cm; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0cm; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 	{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; 	margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; 	mso-header-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--></div>
<div align="justify">
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #000080;"><b>Inside the women only zone in Afghanistan:</b> </span>This week in  Asia Calling, we paid a visit to Kabul’s Women’s Garden, a state-run  multi center where hundreds of Afghan women go to shop, work-out and  learn new skills.....like driving Some say the eight-acre enclosure in  the Shahrara neighborhood goes back to 1500s. More reliably it is dated  to the 1940s or ’50s, when King Zahir Shah was said to have give it to  the state. Three years ago it underwent a renovated with foreign aid  money. Normally strictly a women’s only zone reporter Malyar Sadeq Azad  was given permission to go inside for Asia Calling.</p>
<table style="height: 42px; width: 304px;" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="standardtext" valign="top">
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000080;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>A Filipino who has taken part in 25 Easter crucifixions</b></span>:</span> On Good Friday– the holiest day of the year for Catholics- dozens of  very devout followers in the Philippines re-enact the crucifixion of  Jesus Christ. They nail their feet and hands nailed to wooden crosses,  while others will flog themselves while walking barefoot through  villages. The Philippines is Southeast Asia’s largest Roman Catholic  nation. Madonna Virola meets one man who has carrying out this painful  tradition for 25 years.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;" align="justify"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>These stories and much more this week </strong></span></p>
<div align="center"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>on Asia Calling: </strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
<h4><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Your Window on Asia </strong></span></h4>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:""; 	margin:0cm; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:"Times New Roman"; 	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 	{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; 	margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; 	mso-header-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--></p>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>  </div>
						 </div></div>	</div>
					</div><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">
						window.addEvent("load", init);
						function init() {
							myTabs1 = new JATabs("myTab-1428374937", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false});							
						}
						//new JATabs("myTab-1428374937", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false});													
				     </script>					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
	
		</div>
		<!-- END: MASSCOL -->
		
		<div id="ja-cols" class="clearfix">
		
				
						
		</div>

	</div><br/>
	<!-- END: COLUMNS -->
	
</div></div>


<!-- BEGIN: FOOTER -->
<div id="ja-footerwrap" class="clearfix">
<div id="ja-footer">
	
	<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ccffff;">Asia Calling owns all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), and has the exclusive perpetual worldwide right to use, in whole or in part, and in all manner and media, all material provided to Asia Calling by its Correspondents, with no further obligation to the Correspondent. <br/></span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END: FOOTER -->



			<script type="text/javascript">
			var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl./" : "20110417023103/http://www./");
			document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
			</script>
			<script type="text/javascript">
			try {
			var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-18317669-1");
			pageTracker._trackPageview();
			} catch(err) {}</script>
			<span id="jabookmark-container" style="display:none " class="ja-social-bookmarking">
	<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">addthis_pub="joomlart";addthis_header_color="#000000";addthis_header_background="#999999";addthis_brand="joomlart.com";addthis_language="en";addthis_options="";addthis_offset_top="";addthis_offset_left="";</script><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()"><img src="http://s7.addthis.com/static/btn/lg-share-en.gif" border="0" alt=""/>  </a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/200/addthis_widget.js"></script></span>
<script type="text/javascript">
window.addEvent('domready', function(){
	holder = $('jabookmark-container');  
	wapper = $('jabookmarkWapper');
	if (holder && wapper) { 
		holder.setStyle('display','block');
		wapper.replaceWith( holder.remove() );
	}
});
</script>
</body>

</html>