Cousin marriage is legal here, as it is in most parts of the world (including the US). It is not considered incest. Like the US, first you have to take a blood test. If the cousins are found to be compatible the marriage is accepted.

He believes it would be good a match for both children. Both are open to arranged marrages and in fact both are currently looking for a partner through such an arrangement (called omiai in Japanese, it is also fairly common in this culture). The children get along well and like each other in general. He also believes this will help keep our family business together (we are all involved in the same business).

His daughter is several years younger than my son. She is beautiful, smart, humble, polite, and on the surface of it seems like she would be a good catch for any man. My son is talented and intelligent although a bit withdrawn and difficult to socialize with others. He has never had a serious girlfriend. Both of them are in their late 20s.

I don't quite know what to think about this. I guess if they don't object to it, I wouldn't either. Still I think it is a bit strange, even though technically it is accepted in this society it is a kind of "marginal" thing and really not all that normal when you come right down to it.