Hello, this is Kim Il-kyu, a correspondent for Hankyung Global Market in Tokyo. Japan is the only country in the world that legally mandates couples to adopt the same surname upon marriage, requiring either the wife or the husband to change their original surname. Most women tend to give up their original surname and take on their husband's surname. However, as women's economic activities have increased, there are growing concerns that this system discriminates against women. Recently, Japan's largest business organization, Keidanren, has called for reform of this system. The core of the proposal is to introduce an optional separate surname system, allowing couples the choice to either share the same surname or retain different surnames. This issue has emerged as a point of contention ahead of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election on the 27th of this month, where Japan's next prime minister will be selected. So today, we will explore Japan's surname system for married couples. First, let's take a look at an interesting analysis: if this continues, it is predicted that all Japanese people will someday be named Satoshi.

According to an analysis, Professor Hiroshi Yoshida from the University of Tohoku predicted in April that in 500 years, the surname Satora will make up 100% of the population in Japan. According to Professor Yoshida, currently, Satoshi is the most common surname in Japan, accounting for about 1.5% of the total. However, in Japan, the Civil Code stipulates that couples must follow the surname of either the husband or the wife as determined at the time of marriage. At the moment of marriage, one partner must give up their surname, which is a system for married couples. Professor Yoshida analyzed that if marriages continue, by 2531, everyone will have the surname Satora. Of course, this is a provisional estimate based on various scenarios, and Satoshi is not a bad surname. What is certain is that in Japan, where about 500,000 couples marry each year, the same number of surnames are disappearing annually. Already, among approximately 130,000 surnames, 50,000 are considered at risk of extinction. There are also quite a few surnames that have already disappeared.

Recently, the issue of optional surname separation for couples has been discussed in Japan. The proposal is to allow couples to choose whether to use the same surname or different surnames. It is not about forcing same-sex couples to separate their surnames but rather about giving everyone the freedom to choose. Currently, over 90% of those who change their surname upon marriage are women. The core issue identified is that changing surnames can lead to career interruptions or the difficulty of managing two different surnames. 

Now, let's take a look at an example. Dorikai Kumiko is an honorary professor at Rikkyo University in Japan, and she has also suffered due to the pressure to adopt her husband's surname. For instance, when creating bank accounts or credit cards, the principle is based on the registered family name. After marriage, her registered surname changed to her husband's, so she could no longer use her existing accounts and had to open new ones. Additionally, the papers she wrote as a professor became problematic. The author of the paper she wrote before marriage has a different surname than the author of the paper she wrote after marriage.

It doesn't seem like a paper written by a person. Therefore, even though I originally wanted to use my married name at work, it wasn't accepted at the first university I worked for. In the case of Japanese passports, there is a provision to put the original surname in parentheses next to the changed surname, but airline tickets and other documents are often issued with the registered name, which causes frequent issues. This was something that happened when the professor received an urgent call from the university while on a business trip to the UK. When the university contacted the hotel where the professor was staying, the hotel responded that they do not accommodate such people. It took a long time for the professor to get in touch because he mistakenly made the hotel reservation under his original surname. The professor then introduced examples from other countries. In English-speaking countries, it is common to hyphenate the husband's surname and the wife's surname. In Korea, the principle is that couples use different surnames, known as separate surnames. Professor Torikai discussed this with the companies.

As the number of women in management positions increases, simply using two different surnames does not solve the problem. It is fervently hoped that society will become one where individuals, regardless of gender, can live with the name they desire. Masai Takako, the chairperson of SBI Financial Economic Research Institute, has also experienced considerable discomfort. In Japan, shareholder meeting notices often include a memo stating that for the agenda of appointing directors, the registered name is different. This memo is usually additional information about female director candidates. It is essential when they continue to use their maiden names after marriage. Masai Takako is one such individual. This year, she was appointed as a social director at the shareholder meeting of Kawasaki Kisen, a large shipping company in Japan. The appointment agenda states that her registered name is Nishida Takako, which is her husband's surname. This is because, after marrying in 2003, she continued to build her career under her original name. In this way, women's economic...

As activities increase, there is a growing call for companies to improve the system of selective couple surnames. In June, Keidanren, Japan's largest economic organization, announced a proposal demanding the early realization of the optional couple surname system. This is the first time Keidanren has organized its advocacy for the optional couple surname system into policy recommendations. Keidanren argued that the current system, which requires couples to choose one surname upon marriage, hinders women's activities. They emphasized the need for the government to quickly submit a revised bill and expressed hope for constructive discussions in the National Diet. Masakazu Nokura, the chairman of Keidanren, stated that this can no longer be dismissed as a personal issue, even going so far as to say it poses a business risk for companies. In a survey conducted by Keidanren in May, 90% of companies allowed the use of both the registered surname and the original surname. However, discrepancies between the name commonly used and the name listed on passports can lead to issues abroad.

There have been cases where issues arose during hotel check-ins or where individuals were unable to create credit cards. In fact, there were instances where someone went through a legal divorce to continue using their original surname. Analysts have pointed out that the burden of changing one's surname tends to fall disproportionately on women. Although women's participation is gradually increasing, the same-sex marriage of couples can create barriers that hinder women's roles on a global scale. They argued that a system is needed that allows individuals to continue using the surname they were born with as their official surname if they wish. 

There is another reason why companies cannot simply observe same-sex marriage without taking action. Even profit-oriented businesses are strictly required to respect human rights in the context of global business and human rights. Companies have a responsibility to advocate for reform, and neglecting this duty could jeopardize their international credibility and competitiveness due to failing to uphold their responsibility to respect human rights. 

So, when did couples in Japan start using the same surname?

First of all, Article 750 of the Japanese Civil Code stipulates that one spouse must change their surname upon marriage to create a unified surname for the couple. This principle has remained unchanged since 1898, which means it has been in place for 126 years up to this year. If neither the husband’s surname nor the wife’s surname is chosen, the marriage registration will not be processed. Currently, 95% of those who change their surname are women. In the past, various burdens, including complicated procedures, have disproportionately affected women, leading to significant concerns regarding gender equality. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has also recommended legal amendments to allow women to retain their pre-marriage surnames if the regulations are discriminatory. On the other hand, there are supporters of a unified surname in Japan. They argue that having the same surname for all family members demonstrates family unity. This concern is particularly strong among conservative groups, who fear that differing surnames between parents and children could undermine family cohesion.

However, as mentioned earlier, Japan is the only country that legally requires couples to have the same surname upon marriage. In the past, it was common worldwide for a wife to adopt her husband's surname, but many countries have legalized optional separate surnames for couples, following the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1979, from a gender equality perspective. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany allow couples to choose separate surnames, while China, South Korea, and France adhere to the principle of separate surnames. There are instances where the husband changes his surname when registering the marriage, but the wife can retain her original surname. The issue arises when the woman's surname does not change after marriage, leading to misunderstandings that she may have divorced early. In the past, there were discussions in the Japanese Diet and judiciary regarding the optional separate surname system. In 1996, a civil code amendment was prepared, but at that time, there were significant concerns that it could undermine family unity. Within the Liberal Democratic Party, there were also differing opinions.

There is also opposition, and ultimately, the submission to the National Diet has been postponed. The Japanese Supreme Court ruled that the current system, which does not recognize optional separate surnames for married couples, is constitutional in both 2015 and 2021. It pointed out that this is a matter that should be discussed and decided in the National Diet. Amid this, when Keidanren, which is closely tied to the Liberal Democratic Party, raised the issue, the LDP finally took action. Recently, there have been discussions within the party regarding the optional separate surname system. However, it seems that gathering opinions within the party is not easy, and there are predictions that this will become a key issue in the upcoming elections this month. Among the Japanese public, there are also diverse opinions, making it unlikely that a conclusion will be reached overnight. A recent opinion poll conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and TV Tokyo asked about support for the optional separate surname system, showing that 69% were in favor while 23% were opposed. However, among the LDP supporters, less than 60% were in favor. Attention is now focused on who the next Prime Minister will be.

There are some movements to be observed regarding the candidates mentioned for the post of Kishida. Former Secretary General Ishiba Shigeru and former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro are both in favor of introducing a selective couple's surname system. Both candidates enjoy significant popularity among the public. In a press conference announcing his candidacy, Ishiba stated that both men and women are struggling because they cannot choose their surname and are facing disadvantages, which should be resolved. Another candidate, Kono Taro, the Digital Minister, expressed in his candidacy announcement that he thinks it would be good to recognize the selective couple's surname system, but he is also cautious. Former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki, during his candidacy announcement, revealed his belief that allowing the use of surnames on resident registration cards is a priority. Later, in a television appearance, he responded that it would be better to proceed cautiously. Economic Security Minister Nakaiichi Sanna recently stated in an internet broadcast that maintaining a unified family surname is desirable.

Regarding security, a proposal has been made to report the intention to continue using one's original surname when getting married. In any case, due to social changes that respect individual choices, discussions about the optional couple's separate surname system have become inevitable. Observers predict that this will be pursued regardless of who becomes the new president. This has been Kim Il-kyu from Tokyo.

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