Marriage between cousins

[Shining Finger]

Does anybody know Japanese couples who are cousins?

I noticed that even though blood related brother-sister marriage is a taboo, nobody seems to object to relationship (or even marriage) between cousins in manga/anime/games. Is this really the case in real life?

I myself have no objection to this. Two people loving each other should be allowed to get married if they choose to, IMO.

[Kyra]

I have an aunt and uncle who were married first cousins (they've since divorced). I don't know if what they say about inbreeding is true, but my cousins who were a result of that marriage are pretty weird (but then again, that could have been due to the divorce).

[CrossboneGundam]

I have an aunt and uncle who were married first cousins (they've since divorced). I don't know if what they say about inbreeding is true, but my cousins who were a result of that marriage are pretty weird (but then again, that could have been due to the divorce).

A few years ago, some scientists did a study and determined that cousins reproducing together didn't result in any more birth defects than unrelated people. There was a bit about it on the Daily Show where they made a lot of jokes about rednecks and hillbillies and such out in places like Kentucky and Tennessee rejoicing... :lol:

[Stelok]

I was under impression that cousins may get married to each other in not just Japan but also other countries, even some Christian or Catholic ones. It's hardly incest.

[Searching]

is from the mothers side not the fathers side though, cousin from mothers side of family.

[Animematt55]

I was under impression that cousins may get married to each other in not just Japan but also other countries, even some Christian or Catholic ones. It's hardly incest.
It used to be extremely common.
and about birht defects, yes there was that study. But also it takes a while for that to happen. So maybe quite a few generations down the line a defect ma start to show. But with 1st cousins it would take a while....and that is if each child married their cousin.

It seems to be a common, even accepted taboo at lease in anime and manga.

[Schuldich]

I think in the past in Japan 1st cousins were allowed to marry each other, especially where royalty was concerned (gotta keep it in the family!!).

It has been very common in past societies to have second cousins marry, though first cousins were often considered taboo. (i'm talking indigenous cultures here...)

[MelonNanasi-san]

is from the mothers side not the fathers side though, cousin from mothers side of family.
There is no distinction between cross-cousins and parallel cousins in Japanese. Simply, both are called "いとこ" strictly corresponding to cousin (thus there is no distinction between their gender, too).

[Searching]

There is no distinction between cross-cousins and parallel cousins in Japanese. Simply, both are called "いとこ" strictly corresponding to cousin (thus there is no distinction between their gender, too).


i was talking about chinese sorry (i forgot to write, was what i was told at tao center)

[Shining Finger]

If I remember correctly, the Tao teaching prohibits people of same surnames to marry... I guess you can marry your cousin this way if s/he has a different surname? =/

There is no distinction between cross-cousins and parallel cousins in Japanese. Simply, both are called "いとこ" strictly corresponding to cousin (thus there is no distinction between their gender, too).
So, is it ok to marry your own cousin? Even if it's not prohibited by law, would people look down on cousins who are couples? What do the parents think?

[Kyra]

I think it's kinda weird. I can't imagine marrying any of my cousins. I remember when I found out about my aunt and uncle (both are from my grandmother's side, my grandmother's daughter and her nephew), I was told to keep it secret. So I don't think my family was very proud of the fact.

[RDClip]

I was under impression that cousins may get married to each other in not just Japan but also other countries, even some Christian or Catholic ones. It's hardly incest.
Well, marrying your first cousin is illegal in Canada.

[Ken-Ohki]

Marrying first cousins is legal in most US states.

[Throcktar]

I think it's kinda weird. I can't imagine marrying any of my cousins. I remember when I found out about my aunt and uncle (both are from my grandmother's side, my grandmother's daughter and her nephew), I was told to keep it secret. So I don't think my family was very proud of the fact.
So much for keeping that secret.

[Kyra]

So much for keeping that secret.
They've been divorced for years now and each has remarried, so it doesn't matter :)

[ffl]

I've read that in Japan they can marry to the 3rd degree of sanguinity. I may be remembering this next part incorrectly, but I think the 1st degree are the parents, 2nd degree would be the siblings, and 3rd degree are the... grandparents and uncles/aunts.:huh: So I may be remembering it correctly and they can marry their grandparents and uncles/aunts or I'm recalling this incorrectly and they can only legally marry PAST the 3rd degree of sanguinity. I also don't remember if nieces and nephews fall under the 3rd degree or not.

[Kurai_hisui]

and about birht defects, yes there was that study. But also it takes a while for that to happen. So maybe quite a few generations down the line a defect ma start to show. But with 1st cousins it would take a while....and that is if each child married their cousin.


The only time inbreeding is a problem at all is if both partners have the same recessive gene for a defect. Marrying your sister is technically no problem if at least one of you didn't inherit one of those genes. Siblings have a 1/2 chance of sharing any given gene (defective or not), so you'd have a fifty:fifty shot at kids with 11 toes or whatever. With first cousins it's a 1/8 chance of sharing a gene (for anemia, say, or blue eyes).
Multiple generations of inbreeding complicate the math, but basically increase the odds of any given pair of recessive genes showing up in an offspring. But it could happen in the first generation, or it could never happen. Just to get that cleared up.

As to the Japanese regulations, I haven't got a clue.

Ja, ne

[twilight]

Marrying first cousins is legal in most US states.

....but culturally it's really looked down upon in the US.

[zcale]

....but culturally it's really looked down upon in the US.
mostly in the us i know of cultures that dont look down upon it, but i relly dont know my opinion on it.........

[Chousho]

The only time inbreeding is a problem at all is if both partners have the same recessive gene for a defect... Siblings have a 1/2 chance of sharing any given gene (defective or not), so you'd have a fifty:fifty shot at kids with 11 toes or whatever.

Actually, wouldn't it be a 25% chance?

T being dominant, t being recessive

T t
T [TT] [Tt]
t [Tt] [tt]

3 out of the 4 times the dominant will show up, the 1 will only be recessive.

There's a family about 20 miles from where I am that most people know. They're brother and sister. They have a kid who's like 30 now and has alot of problems. All sorts of diseases, and a hunch back. I wouldn't advise anything that close if it's blood.

[Headcrab]

I think in the past in Japan 1st cousins were allowed to marry each other, especially where royalty was concerned (gotta keep it in the family!!).

It has been very common in past societies to have second cousins marry, though first cousins were often considered taboo. (i'm talking indigenous cultures here...)
hell English Royals did that too, didn't want to mix blood

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

hell English Royals did that too, didn't want to mix bloodHeck, all of Europe did that. Royalty married royalty or very high nobility, related or not.

I know it's legal to marry one's first cousin in Japan. Whether it's look down upon in society, I don't know. (In my personal opinion, I think marrying your cousin would be most awkward if you and your cousin had the same surname, but that's just my personal opinion.)

[Irons]

First cousin marriage is probably the most common type of marriage in the world.

In many cultures the first cousin is ideal. Only recently has Western thought really put a taboo on the idea of marrying your cousin, with the myth that it would result in a greater number of birth defects powering it.

[MonkeyBoy0314]

First cousin marriage is probably the most common type of marriage in the world.

In many cultures the first cousin is ideal. Only recently has Western thought really put a taboo on the idea of marrying your cousin, with the myth that it would result in a greater number of birth defects powering it.
Is there anything that Western people DON'T consider taboo?

[cynicallywired]

Is there anything that Western people DON'T consider taboo?

LOL, big portions for cheap? That's the only thing I can think of that's okay with us... since 2/3rds of us (Americans in general) are overweight and all.

Anyway, marryin' your first cousin is a little awkward (then again, it's probably because I'm comin' from a Western viewpoint). Then again, I don't even want to marry anyone with the same last name as mine, or even the same nationality for that matter. :eww:

[MonkeyBoy0314]

LOL, big portions for cheap? That's the only thing I can think of that's okay with us... since 2/3rds of us (Americans in general) are overweight and all.

Anyway, marryin' your first cousin is a little awkward (then again, it's probably because I'm comin' from a Western viewpoint). Then again, I don't even want to marry anyone with the same last name as mine, or even the same nationality for that matter. :eww:
You bring up some good points, but it does sound like you're coming from a western standpoint.

[VacantEyes]

Is there anything that Western people DON'T consider taboo?

Violence?

You can watch some of the most violent films on American television and all they do is cut out the cussing and the sex. A dozen people murdered in cold blood? No problem. Depraved people who treat each other like animals? No problem. Cussing? No way! Consensual Sex? Hell no!

Kinda silly eh?

Anyway, as for the kissing cousins bit, I once met a cousin who apparently had something of a crush on me when I was a kid. I thought it was odd at the time and I didn't find it appealing at all. It just made me uncomfortable around her once I realized it. Maybe things are different in Japan, but to me it was just weird.

[sfried]

First cousin marriage is probably the most common type of marriage in the world.

In many cultures the first cousin is ideal. Only recently has Western thought really put a taboo on the idea of marrying your cousin, with the myth that it would result in a greater number of birth defects powering it.
...you mean American culture.

Is there anything that Western people DON'T consider taboo?
What about the Europeans? Why must people always asume that the only Western people around are the Americans?

Violence?

You can watch some of the most violent films on American television and all they do is cut out the cussing and the sex. A dozen people murdered in cold blood? No problem. Depraved people who treat each other like animals? No problem. Cussing? No way! Consensual Sex? Hell no!

Kinda silly eh?

Anyway, as for the kissing cousins bit, I once met a cousin who apparently had something of a crush on me when I was a kid. I thought it was odd at the time and I didn't find it appealing at all. It just made me uncomfortable around her once I realized it. Maybe things are different in Japan, but to me it was just weird.
That is not really descriptive of Western cultutre. Again, I don't really consider it Western unless Europeans are counted in the mix, and the exact opposite applies to the Europeans (censors out violence, leaves in the sex). So NO, it is not descriptive of real Western culture.

Also, cousin marrages occured in the middle ages among Royalty. Americans never had this kind of dilema.

[zcale]

Is there anything that Western people DON'T consider taboo?

your right in saying that but on this topic they may have a point

[Jetta]

umm At least i can relate i am living with my boyfreind which we are both first cousins we been in secert for 6 years now its been hard living like this and even more his little brother has been satying which he is dropppng out of school and just caseing choas... he knows about us, but in my heart when me and my love just love together and no one els it was wonderful, now i'm told to wait there move him ou of here, I am tried of living in secert i want to get married .. i herad here in cal its ilegal :( i'v been crying this whole month like emtional rollercoaster...

[Miki]

I had a friend whose parents are cousins each other but she had some physical defects. She had ten teeth missing and needed hearing aid. She was born like that and because of that her parents decided not to have another baby after her.

[Shining Finger]

I had a friend whose parents are cousins each other but she had some physical defects. She had ten teeth missing and needed hearing aid. She was born like that and because of that her parents decided not to have another baby after her.
T___T

I hope she isn't angry at her parents for marrying each other and giving birth to her.

So I guess it's legal, but not recommended?

[Miki]

I didn't think she was. She was one of the happiest girls I've ever met and since she was an only child her parents loved her so much.

If your parents have same gene you are tend to inherit family disease so I don't think it's recomended.

[DarkNataku]

both your parents can be top of the world athletics and you could still be born defective. i fear the day that we can manipulate our genetic make-up, sure everyone would want to be perfect but that is just it. you really want someone that perfect. then you really don't have anything to work out, and of course you dont want someone way out there. but that is love for you. here is my story: i went to mexico for 3 weeks and i meet this girl there, i have to say i still love her, but according to my mom we are distant cousins from my dad's side. no i have to say i hate my dad's side of the family, but it seem to me like she didn't know that either. but i will need to talk to her again and we will see what happens.

[yo yo yo yo]

well I kinda have the hots for my cousin jess I tried hitting on her and she turned me down

[yo yo yo yo]

I wouldnt want to marry her but maybe make out

[Ken-Ohki]

umm At least i can relate i am living with my boyfreind which we are both first cousins we been in secert for 6 years now its been hard living like this and even more his little brother has been satying which he is dropppng out of school and just caseing choas... he knows about us, but in my heart when me and my love just love together and no one els it was wonderful, now i'm told to wait there move him ou of here, I am tried of living in secert i want to get married .. i herad here in cal its ilegal :( i'v been crying this whole month like emtional rollercoaster...


Get married, it should be legal in California, unless something's changed since I lived there. If it isn't find a state where it is legal and get married there. All states must recognize the legal marriage status of other states. I would support you if you were my next door neighbor, sister, or best friend. I have two friends that are married first cousins and they're fine. Good luck and always remember you're happiness comes first ^_^

[Jetta]

Get married, it should be legal in California, unless something's changed since I lived there. If it isn't find a state where it is legal and get married there. All states must recognize the legal marriage status of other states. I would support you if you were my next door neighbor, sister, or best friend. I have two friends that are married first cousins and they're fine. Good luck and always remember you're happiness comes first ^_^



Thanks so much for tha i needed to hear it, but i know once it s out i'm probley going to have to go down with fists :(
Yeah i'm not to sure eathier on how the law is here in California but i should check it out on the net
thanks for your support , i hope i find a job soon it get things moving agian on the right track :huggles:

[Yamaha_R1]

I wouldn't be surprised if that were true (the cousin part). Japan is so backwards and ridiculously immoral, it makes me feel ashamed.

[xCherryBlossomx]

I was under impression that cousins may get married to each other in not just Japan but also other countries, even some Christian or Catholic ones. It's hardly incest.
you can marry your cousin in the usa too, or at least in florida and new jersey.

[DoubleWide]

As an amature genealogist, I've come across many examples of cousins marrying. And it has been said that everyone is descended from an ancient woman named Lucy, although is hasn't been mentioned if she had horns. :teehee:

[max payne]

Arrrrrrrrgh It Burns

[Mercenary]

I dont see what the big deal is.
Why anyone cares about cousins. Its been done throughout history quite commonly.
Heck we accept far worse things than that in our culture, I really dont see any problem with it, not even weirded out by it. I'd think people would be more accepting of it than other unconventional relationships, but people think backwards often.

[Chousho]

I dont see what the big deal is.
Why anyone cares about cousins. Its been done throughout history quite commonly.
Heck we accept far worse things than that in our culture, I really dont see any problem with it, not even weirded out by it. I'd think people would be more accepting of it than other unconventional relationships, but people think backwards often.

All I have to say is.... hemophilia ftw.

Oh yeah, you can prolly add tay sachs in there too.

It may have been done before, but there are consequences for singling out recessive genes.

[VidelCoolGirl]

I'm surprised nobody's made some weird Sailor Moon dub joke. I guess I have to do it.

LOL! Amara and Michelle are cousins, and lesbians! LOL INSEST!

Okay, now that that's over. The whole cousin thing I always though your kids will come put messed up if you have intercousrse or whatever. Is that even true?

[Mutsumi's~Loverboy]

I think its legal throughout the nation if its your second or third cousin, maybe just third and on up. distant cousins are ok. But think of the people who were made to marry their sisters and stuff a loooong time ago.

[Matsu'o Tsurayaba]

Technically humanity is related,so we are all family.Humanity is seperated only by 6 reletives to be exact,this is why we dont look the same,or very similar.

I do not know why people think its ok to have sexual relations with cousins,that are of 2nd and 3rd generation.No matter how distant,they are your blood.That should frighten you,or as the Americans say "your too lazy to go out and get a girlfriend/boyfriend".

It is proven that incest children can have defects,even more so than children who`s parents are not related.

[Burbster]

Technically humanity is related,so we are all family.Humanity is seperated only by 6 reletives to be exact,this is why we dont look the same,or very similar. In fact, that's incorrect, The six degrees of seperation is simply about being someone's aquaintance, not family.

[Jetta]

mmmm its all so confusing for me all i know being 6years now with my Love (cousin) i am ready for marriage :D
and in love.. now its just the matter of how will ever break this to family...
i reckon they would stop talking to me which is fine with me..

[Shinjuku]

Couldn't you use the same logic to justify banging your sister or your mom? Different people draw the line in different places but my guess is that with cousins people are just changing their standards to accomodate their own desires.

[sfried]

I don't know if many people here have read Mahoraba, but is it relly true that they tolerate 2nd marriages in Japan? By the end of the manga, main lead and cousin have kids Having taken genetics class, I know that 2nd cousins are the borderline when it comes to genetic differences, but as Collosus says, and if the Westermarck Effect is true, wouldn't that still make them a bit "iffy"?

[mireisen]

Where in anime/manga/etc. does it support incest? I only remember Angel Sanctuary and Naruto has a possible cousin-cousin incest {Sasame and her strange obssession to her cousin...and then Neji calling Hinata cute >_>;;}.

I honestly would have married my cousin had he been not related to me. But I think the taboo influenced my decision a lot, so the attraction never went past ardent admiration and it was never physical, although I had the feeling if circumstances were different it would have been. I can say that there's a really thin line between admiration and love though. You are asked to love them as family but it's kinda hard when you've got admiration too...and it's really no different from romantic love you get for someone unrelated to you.

For some reason I believe JP really are okay with it. They don't necessarily support incest but they sympathize. There is this really biased article from a Westerner explaining about JP incest but he kinda failed to see it their way. I don't think JP sees it as incest since family bonds should grow stronger if they marry within family, especially nobility. Heck even Tale of Genji had incest in it...like big time >_>;; but I honestly didn't see it that way when reading it, only when Western essays pointed it out.

[greg]

My wife is Japanese, and we were just watching Macross where Kaifun tries to propose to Minmay. She's under the impression that it is illegal in Japan, and asked me about here in the USA. I really have no idea.

[Burbster]

On the subject of legality, If marrying your cousin was illegal, then there would be no British royal family. It would actually be better if they didn't exist...

[Crawlspace]

Where in anime/manga/etc. does it support incest? I only remember Angel Sanctuary and Naruto has a possible cousin-cousin incest {Sasame and her strange obssession to her cousin...and then Neji calling Hinata cute >_>;;}.

They've never refered to it as incest, but the quickest examples off the top of my head are Maria-sama (Sachiko is engaged to her cousin, Yoshino and Rei are cousins), Ceres (cousins), Sakura Diaries (cousins), Koi Kaze (siblings), and Cardcaptor Sakura (several pairs of cousins). There's more that I can't recall, as I've seen it enough for it not to be uncommon or surprising anymore.

[Ariel Tsuki]

Couldn't you use the same logic to justify banging your sister or your mom? Different people draw the line in different places but my guess is that with cousins people are just changing their standards to accomodate their own desires.

Actually, like everyone said, first cousins marrying each other was a very common practice until probably the last century or two or so. There's nothing immoral about it, even the Bible doesn't list it as incestuous couples (I checked throughly, and was surprised that messing around with your stepsibling and stepparent is actually listed). So if someone presents this as immoral in a Judeo-Christian outlook, they should read the Book of Exodus. I guess with a huge population now, it seems there should be no reason why first cousins would marry each other...

However, it still have the potential to give birth defects to children. So, it isn't a really good idea in that standpoint. Only in second cousins, I heard, that the whole gene thing is irrelvant.

And FYI, I know that around 17 US states recognize first cousin marriage, I know New York does. >u< It was on the Ricki Lake show when they were doing a show on it years back.

[sfried]

Only in second cousins, I heard, that the whole gene thing is irrelvant.
Actually, second cousins is just about the line (genetically speaking).

[mecegirl]

Actually, like everyone said, first cousins marrying each other was a very common practice until probably the last century or two or so. There's nothing immoral about it, even the Bible doesn't list it as incestuous couples (I checked throughly, and was surprised that messing around with your stepsibling and stepparent is actually listed). So if someone presents this as immoral in a Judeo-Christian outlook, they should read the Book of Exodus. I guess with a huge population now, it seems there should be no reason why first cousins would marry each other..

Gen. 20: 1-13 Abraham and Sarah are half siblings on their fathers side. In this story a king liked Sarah and becuse Abraham was scared that he would be killed he told the king that she was his sister. God gave the king bad dreams and when the king asked Abraham about it he confesed that she was his sister but also his wife. Quote-"11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife."

It can be looked down apon as in the story of Tamar and Amnon in 2 Sam. 13. Amnon one of King David's sons loved his half sister Tamar and pretended to be sick so that she could take care of him. He then raped her and kicked her out. Which made Tamar's whole brother Absalom pissed off and he killed Amnon. Aparently the problem wasen't that they were together but that Amnon forced himself on her.


Back then however it is possible that their wern't as many birth defects.

[TinkerTara27]

I was just watching an anime where the cousins like each other and was curious about it not being taboo. So just to clarify what everyone is saying. In asian cultures in Japan, China, and such it is not looked down apon like it more commonly is here in the US? If so, what about asian cultures here in America?

[animeotaku99]

IF I had a hot legal aged cousin I'd hit it

[Ken-Ohki]

Yeah, I had a first cousin say she was in love with me, I liked her too but we felt being cousins wouldn't make things easy (our families were the main concern) so we dropped the subject and never hooked up. I'd have been better off with her though and not with some of the emo girls I've met since.

As for cousins in anime? Check out Kanon. Friends and family contniually encourage a relationship between Nayuki and Yuuichi, they live together and are cousins (Their mothers are sisters).