About 75 percent of single men who live alone in Tokyo say that, if married, they would prefer their wives work only if it does not hinder raising children or housework, according to a poll released by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday.
About 58 percent also said they would want their wives to be at home when they returned from work, it said. But in an apparent contradiction, the poll showed that 76.3 percent of men believe both husband and wife should split domestic chores if both have jobs.
It also showed that 85.2 percent of single men answered that a husband should take part in raising children and housework even if the wife is not employed. Government officials in charge of the survey said the apparent contradictions probably indicate "tatemae" and "honne," or professed belief and what one truly desires.
In February last year, the government sent questionnaires to 3,000 single men between 20 and 60 who live in Tokyo. Of them, 577, or 19.2 percent, returned completed surveys, the officials said.