息子：お父さん、僕もそろそろ身をかためようと
思っているんです。
父親：おや、相手はどんな人だい？
息子：雅子さまのようなキャリアウーマンですよ。
Mi wo katameru
Musuko: Otoosan, boku mo soro-soro mi wo katameyoo to omotteiru 'n desu.
Chichioya: Oya, aite wa donna hito dai?
Musuko: Masako-sama no yoo na kyaria uuman desu yo.
Son: You know, Dad, I think it's about time I settled down.
Father: Oh, and what kind of girl have you found?
Son: She's a career-oriented girl just like Princess Masako.
Mi wo katameru means to get married and establish a home of one's own.
The wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito to Masako Owada has apparently set the fires beneath a burgeoning wedding boom. And given the weak economy, it's no wonder that there will be a chain reaction among wedding halls, real estate agents, travel agencies, furniture stores and electric appliance makers - they all want to cash in on the boom.
Women's magazines are packed with such special features as How to Choose Your Partner or How to Find a Mate.
These articles seem to be telling single women narubeku hayaku mi wo katame nasai (to settle down as soon as possible).
The expression "single life" was very popular among women 10 years ago. Behind its popularity was the idea that whereas life was to be enjoyed, marriage tied you down. Working women came to enjoy being single, to establish a career, to get promoted in their companies. Unfortunately, the trend was unfavorable for men, creating a situation in which mi wo katame takutemo aite ga mitsukara nai (even if they wanted to settle down they couldn't find a partner).
Probably influenced by Princess Masako's way of living, a growing number of women hope to get married and follow their professional career. Though we won't know for sure until the figures are out, I bet the birth rate will also go up. Such prospects give me a sigh of relief because if Japan continues on its way to being overloaded with an elderly population, it would become like a ship slowly sinking beneath the waves.