Family - Miuchi

Japanese: 身内 - みうち

It is used to refer to those who are related by blood or kin, but there is no academic definition. Those who are related by blood and are within the sixth degree of kinship are legally called relatives, but the definition of family is highly subjective and is left to the discretion of the individual. Even if a person is distantly related by blood, if they have frequent social interactions in their daily lives, they will have a strong sense of family. In other words, there is a social or psychological range of family in contrast to the legal range of family, and the sense of family is similar to that. In addition, the relationship between a servant or employee and his master, who is not related by blood, may also be considered family. This is because it is considered a kind of ceremonial parent-child relationship. In yakuza groups, those who receive a cup of sake from the same boss are called family members. The fact that the sense of family extends not only among blood relatives but also to non-blood relatives and yakuza groups shows the powerful influence of the Japanese family system.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

いわゆる親戚，親類の関係にあるものをさしていうとき用いられるが，学問的規定はない。血縁関係にあるもののなかで6親等内にあるものを法的には親族というが，身内はかなり主観的な性格が強く，個々人の判断にまかされる。血縁的には遠くても，日常生活のなかで社会的交渉が頻繁であれば，身内意識は強く出る。いわば法的な親族範囲に対し，社会的あるいは心理的な親族範囲があり，身内意識はそれに近い。また血縁関係をもたない奉公人や雇い人と主人との関係でも身内とする場合がある。これは一種の儀礼的親子関係と意識されるためである。やくざ集団でも，同じ親分から杯を受けた者同士を身内の者と呼んでいる。身内意識が血縁者のなかだけでなく，非血縁者集団ややくざ集団のなかまで広がるのは，日本の家族制度が強大な影響力をもっていたことを示している。

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