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Left-handedness in Japan was historically stigmatised, considered unrefined or unlucky, especially for women.
In some parts of pre-modern rural Japan, a woman who was left-handed might be seen as unfit for marriage or even divorced for it. The phrase "hidari-kiki no yome wa kaeshiteko" (左利きの嫁は返してこ) literally means "send back the left-handed bride".
This was tied to social expectations that a woman should be obedient and conform to established customs, including using the right hand for cooking, serving and writing.
Regions often cited in broader ethnographic studies on rural customs include Tohoku, known for its conservatism and preservation of older traditions; Kansai, where Confucian-influenced family roles were strong; Chūgoku and Shikoku, where patriarchal family systems were deeply rooted.
The scientific term for left-handednessis sinistrality, which has nothing to do with sin. (The word sinister comes from a Latin word for left. The word sin comes from Old English synn, which is Germanic in origin, not Latin.)
Sinistrality is influenced by genetics, brain structure, and possibly prenatal factors.
Roughly 10% of the population is left-handed, and they are just as capable, moral, clean and human as right-handed people.