Japanese lawmakers took a major step forward Wednesday toward easing the long-standing single-surname requirement for married couples. Moreover, the proposed legislation, backed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, would make it easier for spouses to continue using their birth surnames — a change that could reshape marriage norms across the country. Consequently, surname reform now appears more likely than ever.
Under the plan, the government would allow couples to give greater legal weight to birth names after marriage. In addition, Justice officials started reviewing obstacles to a “dual-surname” option in October. The review aims to permit birth names to function on equal footing with married names.
At present, many official documents already allow a birth name to appear in parentheses after a married name. Examples include passports, driver’s licences and national identification cards. However, among 332 national qualifications and licences, only 41 permit the sole use of a birth name. Furthermore, the option is even rarer with private banking and financial documents.
Support for change has built steadily. For example, a recent national poll revealed 62 percent of respondents favour letting married couples keep different surnames. Additionally, among younger generations, support rises to over 70 percent. Social researchers view this shift as driven by evolving attitudes to gender equality and family identity.
Business interests also back the change. Specifically, the country’s largest business federation linked surname flexibility to workforce participation. With more women rising to senior roles, business leaders called the single-surname rule a liability. Moreover, they said forcing women to switch names can disrupt careers and create administrative burdens.
Still, some political conservatives resist the reform. They argue a single surname strengthens family cohesion, helps in inheritance tracking, and supports the traditional household registry system. Historically, for decades the civil code — first enacted in 1898 — has required married couples to register under one family name.
Courts have twice upheld that requirement. Nevertheless, both Supreme Court rulings urged the national parliament to re-examine the law in light of changing social norms. The judiciary has left the door open for reform.
If lawmakers approve the new bill, enforcement would likely begin with certain official documents and professional licenses. Over time, the change could extend to bank transactions, business registrations and broader civil-law applications.
Policy experts say the reform could have wide social impact. Notably, it could ease the burden on working women who want to keep their professional name. It could also modernise the country’s civil registry system and align Japan with common international practices.
Nonetheless, family-law scholars caution about potential complications. For instance, they cite practical issues such as inheritance records, dominance of a single family registry per household, and legal clarity for children’s surnames. Debate on those points will likely continue in upcoming parliamentary sessions.
If the bill passes in the next session, Japan may soon allow married couples to maintain individual surnames. Ultimately, such a change would mark a major step in modernising Japan’s family laws and adapting them to evolving social values.
