Ryuta Watanabe, a 36-year-old from Hokkaido, Japan, has not held a job for the past ten years. Instead, he has a unique career goal: to become the “God of Marriage.” Currently, Watanabe lives an unconventional lifestyle, supported entirely by his four wives and two girlfriends.
Family Structure and Aspirations
Watanabe’s family arrangement is quite unusual. He aspires to have a total of 54 children and is already a father to ten. According to the South China Morning Post, his marriages are common-law, meaning they are recognized as marriage-like relationships without formal registration, based on long-term living together and shared responsibilities. Watanabe lives with three of his wives and two of his children, as reported by Japan’s Shueisha Online. In this household, he takes on the role of a househusband, handling cooking, household chores, and childcare.
Financial Arrangements
The monthly household expenses total nearly 914,000 yen (approximately Rs 5 lakh), which are divided among his wives and girlfriends. While he has a fourth wife who is 24 years old, they are currently estranged. Additionally, he met his two girlfriends through social media platforms.
Motivations and Beliefs
Watanabe’s journey into relationships began after a breakup six years ago, which left him feeling depressed. This experience led him to explore dating apps to meet new women. Earlier this year, he appeared on the Japanese TV show Abema Prime, where he stated, “I just love women. As long as we love each other equally, there won’t be any problems.”