Abstract: Japan‘s marriage patterns have undergone two major transformations After World WarⅡ. The first transition began in the early 1970s, shifting from “early and universal marriage” to “late but still universal marriage”. The second emerged after the 1990s, as “late but universal marriage” further evolved toward “late marriage and non-marriage”. As an East Asian country, Japan traditionally places strong emphasis on marriage and family. After entering the stage of “late marriage and non-marriage”, Japan’s marital and fertility behaviors have displayed distinct characteristics compared to Western countries: a stronger stated desire for marriage, a higher proportion of “parasite singles”, and a lower rate of childbearing outside marriage. In contemporary Japanese society, marriage remains the prerequisite for family formation, and the family continues to serve as the fundamental unit of society. The “late marriage and non-marriage” pattern has brought about a series of social issues in Japan, not only exacerbating the low fertility rate but also increasing the burden of social elderly care and deepening the phenomenon of social disconnectedness. Currently, China‘s marriage pattern is transitioning from “early and universal marriage” to “late but universal marriage”. Against this backdrop, studying Japans marital transformation offers valuable insights and reference for understanding the ongoing changes in marriage patterns in China.

Key words: marriage patterns, social impact, low fertility rate, population development