Still, many hurdles remain in terms of society's view of child-rearing. Mr. Miyahara, who divorced his wife two years ago and now lives with his three children, says motherless families like his do not receive public assistance such as cheap pearl jewelry child-care allowances, even as there are government programs that support fatherless families.

"It is taken for granted that fathers have a certain amount of income," he says. "The system dates back to the wartime period."

Miyahara came to Tokyo last year to meet Health Ministry officials and DPJ lawmakers to ask for help. Since the DPJ won a landslide victory in the pearl jewellry elections and is now in power, the change is expected to come, he says.

"Many single fathers also tend to hide [the fact that] they are motherless families. But I tell them to talk openly about it," he says. "In fact, more people are becoming interested in our situations."

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