Is this a cultural thing? Do women in Japan not aspire to fall in love?
Marriage is pretty complicated here, at least to my outsider eye. I know quite a few middle aged women who openly have steady (usu. older) boyfriends, but these boyfriends go home to a wife who barely speaks to him anymore, and yet refuses to divorce him. This also seems to be a relatively normal relationship in middle and later years here.
Like all human stuff, it's complicated under the surface.
>convenient marriage to a busy man who can give her children, financial support, and otherwise leave her alone.
This is likely going further off topic at this point, but between these two comments, why would a guy even want to get married? Even when one factors in a boost in pay/social status, this looks like a bad deal (and that is taking a very pragmatic look at it, but we are talking about marriages of convenience).
ie, the idea that falling in love and choosing your partner are somehow related.