National / Politics Feb 25, 2021
LDP lawmakers to shun move to support separate surnames in Japan
The politicians, including the minister in charge of gender equality, say that a change could result in the collapse of the social system.
National Jan 4, 2021
Opposition party pushing divided LDP over separate surnames in Japan
A recent survey of people under 60 has shown more than 70% of respondents were supportive of having the option of separate surnames.
National Dec 26, 2020
Japan to ease requirements for having birth names on passports
From April, the government will no longer ask a passport applicant to submit documents proving the need to use their birth names, including middle names.
National Dec 25, 2020
Japan shuns different surnames for married couples in gender policy
The new five-year policy also pushed back the goal of having women occupy around 30% of managerial positions to "as early as possible in the 2020s."
National Nov 27, 2020
The names, for boys and girls respectively, rose from fourth and second place the previous year, a survey has shown.
National | FOCUS Nov 22, 2020
Suga’s remark sparks hope for letting married couples use different surnames
When Suga was asked about his past call for creating the option, he said, "As a politician, I bear a responsibility as I have said such things."
National / Social Issues Oct 1, 2020
Worried about coronavirus, unmarried couples pursue legal protection
Without being formally married, couples risk losing hospital visitation rights and permission to give medical consent.
National / Crime & Legal Feb 26, 2020
Tokyo High Court rejects appeal over law forcing Japanese couples to use same surname after marriage
by Magdalena Osumi
The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday rejected a damages suit filed by four people arguing that a national law forcing couples to use the same surname after marriage is unconstitutional. Yoshihisa Aono, the 48-year-old president of software development firm Cybozu Inc., and three others had ...
National Feb 5, 2020
Japan to improve how its passports show birth names of married citizens
The Foreign Ministry will change the way it records birth names in passports for those who adopt the surname of their spouse, in order to display both names more clearly, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Wednesday. "The current method of using parentheses makes it hard ...
National / Politics Jan 28, 2020
Heckling at Diet meeting may spur dual surname debate in Japan's LDP
The party’s Fumio Kishida has said that “we should hold discussions as needed” on whether to allow married couples to continue using their respective surnames.
National / Politics Jan 25, 2020
Shinjiro Koizumi backs different surnames for Japanese couples
In a major break with Japanese tradition, Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expresses support for enabling married couples to use different family names.
National Nov 28, 2019
The National Police Agency said Thursday it will allow people to print their maiden name alongside their married name on driver's licenses starting Sunday. The move is in line with a similar measure taken for the My Number social security and tax identification card. People can ...