Japanese Man Aims for 54 Children with Four Wives

Ryuta Watanabe, a 36-year-old man from Hokkaido, Japan, is seeking to become the 'God of Marriage' by aiming to father 54 children with his four common-law wives and two girlfriends. Despite polygamy being illegal in Japan, Watanabe's relationships are recognized through long-term cohabitation, allowing him to live off the salaries of his partners while he takes on household duties. He has already fathered 10 children, living with two of them and three of his wives, with monthly expenses totaling around 914,000 yen (approximately $6,000) shared among his partners. Watanabe claims to maintain a harmonious household, stating that he rotates sleeping arrangements among his wives and has sex more than 28 times a week without any jealousy among them. His ambitions include breaking the historical record set by Tokugawa Ienari, a shogun who fathered 53 children. This unconventional lifestyle has drawn mixed reactions, with some voicing concerns about the implications for his children's relationships with their father.