The Oyabun-Kobun: A Japanese Ritual Kinship Institution

This institution is significant since (1) it is implicit in many social groupings found in Japan (2) and the phenomenon of ritual kinship is of current interest in anthropology, because it is an aspect of the social organization of more complex non-industrialized societies. These patterns of simulated kinship ties include relationships that bring strangers and unrelated persons into close cooperative and purposive action. In Japan the relationship is formally established by means of a ceremony involving many symbolisms of birth and marriage. Thus a ritual family can be organized. It differs from the biological family system in that the roles are not ascribed, but achieved. The primary function of the ritual kin system is different from the biological kin system in that: (1) it provides the framework for integrating the activities of a group of people engaged in a common activity; and (2) the terminological system is based upon true kin cognates, but has certain variations. The development of ritual kinship customs reached a peak in the early industrial period of Japan. Modern political and labor organizations organize on oyabun-kobun patterns. This system is highly functional in an over-populated society. These ritual kin groups provide security and support in the face of economic crisis. H. Takacs.