If you’re too embarrassed or afraid to tell your friends and family that your marriage didn’t work out and you’re getting a divorce, the Japanese have the perfect solution for you. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you…The Divorce Newspaper!
The brainchild of “Japanese divorce guru” Hiroki Terai, here’s how it works: when couples who are about to divorce sign up for this service, they undergo an extensive interview regarding their marriage and the reasons for the divorce and that information is compiled into a “Happy Divorce” newspaper which is distributed to friends and family. The cost for this service ranges from $140-200 U.S. (with a 50% discount if you allow Terai to place an ad for his business in your newspaper) and for an extra charge, they will even convert your tale into a “Game of Life” board game that ends with the final square marked…yes, Happy Divorce!
According to Terai, putting a positive spin on divorce allows couples to gain closure and better move on with their lives and this business is allegedly gaining popularity as divorce rates rise so maybe he’s onto something. This does all sound clever and original, but isn’t it easier and cheaper to just put up a facebook status or send an email to everyone on your list? I mean do you really need a board game to announce the news?
Yeah, but do you really want to “friend” your family and friends on fb? LOL
Japan is awesome. It’s like being on a different planet.
My old boss’ wife is a psychotherapist, and she once relayed to me the story of how a couple who had been married 20 years came into her office, ready to divorce – bitter, sad, depressed – complaining of “20 wasted years.”
When my boss’ wife probed them a bit further, they both admitted it was actually the last 3 years that had been bad. The 17 before that were pretty good.
My boss’ wife said: okay, so we’re here today celebrating a good 17 year marriage!
Her clients, who did eventually divorce, left smiling that day.