noun
commuter marriage; living-apart-together marriage
A marriage arrangement where the couple lives separately, often for work or personal reasons, while maintaining their marital relationship.
仕事の都合で、私たちは別居婚を選びました。
Due to work circumstances, we chose a commuter marriage.
別居婚は最近、都市部の共働き夫婦の間で増えている。
Commuter marriages have been increasing recently among dual-income couples in urban areas.
事実婚 is a de facto marriage without legal registration, whereas 別居婚 is a legally registered marriage where the couple lives apart.
Compound of 別居 (bekkyo, 'living separately') and 婚 (kon, 'marriage'). The term is a modern coinage reflecting contemporary social arrangements.