Gender equality in Asia has long been an interesting but difficult study for many researchers. Japan, a developed and prosperous country, also has a rich history of women-led gender revolution. Regarding the changing roles of Japanese women in the family and in society discussed by many scholars, this essay analyzes and compares traditional and modern Japanese women through two popular cultural texts: the television series Oshin (1983–1984) and the talk -show “Culture change in Japan” (2007) from the Everywoman program of AIJazeera English. Traditional Japanese women have long been seen as submissive, devoted and loyal to their family. They endured miserable lives in silence, as was their lot, but nonetheless demonstrated perseverance and resilience. The Japanese television series Oshin, broadcast in Japan in 1983–1984 and broadcast overseas since 1984, details these traditional characteristics through the difficult life of a young girl named Oshin from the age of seven until eighty-three years old. She was sold twice by her poor father to work as a babysitter. His childhood was full of housework and abuse from his employers. In this part of the drama, her father seemed unsentimental when he repeatedly sent Oshin to work as a maid when she was only seven years old. Oshin's mother loved him but could not oppose her husband. Then, when Oshin grew up and married someone from a different social class without her in-laws' approval, she was persecuted by her malicious mother-in-law. One of Oshin's scenarios to her husband is: "Every day I work until I am too exhausted to speak...I am malnourished but I endure in silence because I am told that every woman must endure her fate..." (Mulhern, 1994) As her m...... middle of paper ......succeed. The Oshin TV series reflects the miserable lives of traditional Japanese women in three historical periods, and to a certain extent highlights women's development toward justice and success. In contrast, Everywoman's talk show "Culture Change in Japan" examines the new trends of delaying marriage for young women and choosing divorce for middle-aged women in modern society. Through these two examples of popular culture texts and the references of numerous researchers on the subject, this essay analyzes and compares the evolution of the roles of Japanese women in the family and society, from the past to the present. Nowadays, most Japanese women have achieved equality and respect in society and are no longer submissive to their husbands. It is important for Japanese women and men to understand their equitable roles and maintain this peaceful gender relationship..