Case from 2005: The Court took a different approach when evaluating the constitutionality of the hōju system, a family law institution based on patriarcal authority. Under the system, the male head of the household had legal power over all famility members, reflecting Confucian ideals of male dominance and ancestor worship. The Court held that this sytem violated the Constitution's garuantee of equality and dignity and declared it unconstitutional. This ruling was significant because it marked a clear shift: while tradition is respected, it must be reinterpreted thorugh the lens of modern constitutional values. The judges applied what is known as the ''consitutional deference theory'', which holds that when traditional customs conflict with constitutional rights, susch as gender equality, these customs must give away.