Lessons in love for Japanese men scared of divorce

A growing number of Japanese men are turning to a special relationship counselling class with the intention of learning how to improve their marriages and avert divorce.

Launched in 1999 by Shuichi Amano, a magazine editor and founder of the National Teishu-Kampaku Association, which loosely translated means the Chauvinistic Husbands Association, the group focuses on problems faced by husband such as intimacy and pride.

When Mr Amano formed it, his 20-year marriage was on the verge of collapse, as were the marriages of many of his friends, the Agence France-Presse reports.

Now, many chaps in search of marital advice come to the session, where they chant phrases such as 'say thank you without hesitating, 'say sorry without being scared' and 'say I love you without being shy'.

Mr Ammo told the news agency: "The old ways don't work anymore and we husbands have to get out of our little fantasy of having ultimate power over our wives. We have to show our ability to change ourselves for the sake of our marriage.

"Marriage is like a triathlon to love one person throughout the race. Winning or losing isn't important - you have to overcome every bump on the way to complete the race."

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