The family about which the novel The Makioka Sisters is written about is split between two houses; the main branch, which is the family home, is located in Osaka and the stem branch resides in Ashiya, an affluent suburb between Osaka and Kobe. The eldest sister, Tsuruko, her husband, Tatsuo, and their six children live in the main branch. Yukiko and Taeko, the third and fourth eldest sisters respectively, are both unmarried and bounce back and forth between the main and stem branches because of their disliking of their oldest sister’s husband. Despite the fact that they spend a majority of their time at the stem branch in Ashiya, Yukiko and Taeko technically belong to the main branch family in Osaka. The second eldest sister, Sachiko, lives in the Ashiya branch with her husband, Teinosuke, and their daughter, Etsuko. Both Tatsuo and Teinosuke are mukoyoshis, or husbands that have adopted the family name of their wives. The husbands did the because of the high social and financial status that accompanies the Makioka surname coupled with the fact that the sisters do not have brother to carry on the Makioka name. The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki Junichiro blends century-old Japanese traditions with more modern, westernized lifestyles. “The three were not monotonously alike, however. Each had her special beauties, and they set one another off most effectively, still they had an unmistakable something in common…Yukiko was the most Japanese in appearance and dress, Taeko the most Western, and Sachiko stood midway between” (Junichiro, 1948, p. 30).
Power relations within the Makioka family are what are typically seen in Japanese families. The men hold the power over the household and the women. After the passing of their father, Tatsuo took over as the primary authority figure of the family. Seeing as Yukiko and Taeko are both unmarried and are part of the main branch family, Tatsuo essentially owns the two youngest sisters, making decisions, important decisions, for them without their consent throughout the entirety of the novel. For instance, when Tatsuo is relocated to Tokyo after accepting a managerial position for the bank that he works for, he decides that not only shall his family pack up and leave immediately, but that Yukiko and Taeko shall too go to Tokyo along with him, Tsuruko, and their six kids. Taeko is allowed to stay back in Ashiya for a short while so she can tend to her business, but Tatsuo demands that Yukiko leaves with them at once. Tsuruko and Yukiko are preoccupied with finding a reason to send Yukiko back to Ashiya and get one with a miai and potential suitor for Yukiko. It is apparent throughout the story that some very questionable miais are being accepted on Yukiko’s part; questionable because they are miais she would not typically have partaken in. It appears that Yukiko and the Makiokas have become desperate in their search for marriage prospects for Yukiko to the point where she herself starts getting rejected.” My dear Mrs. Sugano: I was happy to find you well in this gloomy weather. Thank you very much indeed for your troubles of day before yesterday. About Miss Makioka: since, upon conference, we have concluded that the answer must be negative, I should be most grateful if you would so inform her. I am answering immediately lest I cause you further trouble. Thank you again for your kindness. Sincerely yours, Sawazaki Hiroshi” (Junichiro, 1948, p. 358). This was the letter that Sawazaki Hiroshi sent to Sachiko regarding the miai between himself and Yukiko. This was their first time being rejected. This was “the first time they were branded the losers” (Junichiro, 1948, p. 358). In order to avoid negative social backlash, Yukiko needs to get married before Taeko can. This makes Yukiko look bad because she is getting older and being unwed makes it look as if there is something wrong with her, not only soiling her name, but potentially the Makioka name as well. Another example of the power relations in The Makioka Sisters is when Taeko is disinherited after refusing to go to Tokyo. In Tsuruko’s letter to Sachiko, her demands are pretty blatant. “…we have made up our minds and want no stalling. We would like an answer before the end of the month on which of the two it is to be: does she come to Tokyo, or is she thrown out of the Makioka family” (Junichiro, 1948, p. 380-381). Tatsuo forced her hand. Although the letter might have been from Tsuruko, the language of the letter has all of the indications that would lead them to believe those were Tatsuo’s words. Power resides first and foremost with the men, but authority apparently also resides with those who are older and married compared to those who are younger and unwedded.
It was traditional for unmarried sisters to live in the home of the head of the family, yet Yukiko and Taeko stray away from tradition. The sisters have minds and thoughts of their own, even perhaps the most traditional and pacific of the bunch, Yukiko. The family’s attempts to impose their will on Yukiko and her spousal choice fail as she holds out for a match that best fits her. She would rather risk remaining single her entire life (and by doing so would be dooming Taeko to a similar fate) than settle for someone she is not interested in.