BABY BOYS ARE PREFERRED BECAUSE IT IS THE CUSTOM FOR
THE FAMILY NAME IN JAPAN TO BE PERPETUATED DOWN
THROUGHOUT THE AGES, AND WITHOUT RESORTING TO THE
CUSTOM OF ADOPTION. THAT IS, IF THERE ARE ONLY
GIRLS IN A FAMILY, AT THE MARRIAGE OF THE ELDEST
DAUGHTER, THE BRIDEGROOM ADOPTS THE FAMILY NAME
OF THE BRIDE AND THUS PERPETUATES THE FAMILY NAME
OF THE BRIDE. (GIRLS, OTHERWISE, ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME IN JAPANESE HOMES.)

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE GROWING UP IN
JAPAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN ; JAPAN

Date learned: 08-01-1964