File photo taken in June 2021 shows a marriage registration form, on which couples are asked to check a box indicating which surname they will use. (Kyodo)
TOKYO – The Japanese government is considering submitting to parliament next year a bill to legalize the use of birth surnames after marriage, rather than pursuing legislation to allow married couples to retain separate surnames, a government source said Wednesday.
The government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes the legalization will encourage wider acceptance of birth surnames by financial institutions.
The bill, which the government is aiming to submit during the regular Diet session, is not expected to bring about a change to the current requirement that a couple share a single surname upon marriage, likely triggering a backlash from groups calling for the option of retaining separate surnames.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a staunch conservative, has been cautious about allowing the retention of separate surnames, with some in her ruling Liberal Democratic Party concerned that it would undermine family cohesion and traditional values.
Immediately after taking office in October, Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi and Hitoshi Kikawada, minister for gender equality, to conduct studies on the expanded use of birth surnames after marriage.
The issue is among the most contentious in the country, with women predominantly giving up their surnames upon marriage.
Japan may be the only country requiring couples to adopt the same surname upon marriage, according to the Justice Ministry.
AloJapan.com