In answer to the reader in Mita-ku enraged with having to 'pay out' money for so many of the activities that at home she takes as freely granted (parties, weddings, funerals), best remember perhaps that everything has its price.
Who would think of going to a party in any country without a bottle of wine or some edible offering? Funerals, well they are slightly different.
But every wedding requires a gift, and more-often-than not these days (in the U.S. and the U.K. at least) the invite comes complete with a list of items required for setting up home _ and more-often than not from a very expensive store.