Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of figures -- Preface -- Series Editor's Preface -- List of contributors -- 1. Introduction: Happiness in Japan through the anthropological lens -- The popularity of happiness -- Anthropology's strained relationship with happiness -- Anthropological insights into happiness -- The collection -- References -- PART I: Family, intimacy and friendship -- 2. More than just nakayoshi: Marital intimacy as a key to personal happiness -- Introduction -- Background: Eri's divorce and second marriage -- Deactivating shame through humor -- Self-esteem and a partner's support -- A married couple's well-being vis-à-vis the family's best interest -- Marital intimacy: For its own right -- Nakayoshi na fu-fu is not always enough -- Concluding remarks -- Notes -- References -- 3. Physical intimacy and happiness in Japan: Sexless marriages and parent-child co-sleeping -- Introduction -- Sexless marriages and physical un-intimacy among Japanese couples -- Parent-child co-sleeping: Temporal happiness as parents -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 4. Happiness and unconventional life choices: Views of single women in Japan -- Happiness and marriage -- Happiness for single women -- Single women and intimacy -- Conclusions -- References -- 5. Friendships, marriage and happiness in contemporary Japan -- Introduction -- Marriage and singlehood: Factors in friendships -- Friendship, happiness and belonging -- Work and men's friendships -- Friendship beyond marriage: Gendered differences -- Connections: Between friendship and happiness -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- 6. Grandfathering in contemporary Japan: Altruistic and self-serving means to happiness -- Grandfathers' practices of grandchild care -- The scope and limits of grandfathers' involvement in childcare