Are Cousins Fair-Game in Japan?!?!?!

[User19sq]

...Because I've watched Sword Art Online, and just got through the Harvest December visual novels, and in both series, the protagonist's cousin has the hots for him. Is this a cultural difference to us non-Japanese people, or are the authors vicariously living out their fantasies? I remember Edgar Allen Poe marrying his first cousin, but times change.

Just sayin'. XD;

 

[Altairis]

that's a fictional series tho? it's not representative of all of Japanese culture or anything :(

 

[moon]

I had a friend here in Sweden who dated her first cousin. I don't think it's illegal, maybe just seen as a bit odd.

 

[Dracowyn]

In fact, this is legal in most countries including Western ones.
The only countries where this is illegal are Bulgaria, China, India (depending on the religion said people are from), Kosovo, the Phillipines, Croatia, Macedonia, North Korea, Romania, Serbia, Taiwan and South Korea.

It is forbidden in some states of the USA, but not in all. So in most countries it's perfectly fine by law to be together with and even marry your cousin. Not that it won't be frowned upon.

I know my dad dated one of his cousins when he was young. He barely kew her before that though since we're from a huge family.

 

[Logan]

it's legal but it's seriously odd

 

[Sirfetch’d]

<insert southeastern US joke here>

 

[User19sq]

So it's still frowned upon over there too, huh? As long as everyone at the very lease considers taking a refreshing dip in the gene pool. XDDDDD

 

[Pinkie-Dawn]

So it's still frowned upon over there too, huh? As long as everyone at the very lease considers taking a refreshing dip in the gene pool. XDDDDD

Only to endanger their blood line with their children getting birth defects and vulnerability to diseases.