Greetings from Baghdad, where it's 120 in the shade, the food is great, the people the best and electricity a dim memory. Oh, for the goodness of Japan.
I live in Shizuoka-ken. My wife and I were married 1 1/2 years ago and are expecting a child very shortly. We have been told by the local city ward office that we cannot have a joint name for the baby. Yet a friend of mine has been able to this in Sendai.
Generally I am not in favor of joint names, but in the case of both my wife and I, and the child being a boy, it is the only chance to carry on both our family lineages.