Proposal for Separate Surname

The largest group of business managers in Japan, Japan Business Federation, as known as Keidanren, made a proposal to the government of Japan to introduce the selective surname system for married couples. Keidanren realized current system, which imposes each couple to use common surname, disturbs business activities mainly of women. Business sector looks like unable to wait for slow progress of discussion in the conservative Liberal Democratic Party. 

Article 750 of the Civil Code describes that each married couple share a surname of husband or wife, according to the decision at their marriage. Any couple cannot use different surnames which has been used before marriage. Currently, 95% of married couples register husband’s surname. It is common that a married woman uses her original surname as a business name in her office, but it cannot be used for family registration or passport.

 

Titled “Aiming at a Society with Choices,” Keidanren’s proposal urged the government to introduce new system in which a married man and woman can choose their preferred surname they like. “Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are the sources of innovation and indispensable elements for sustainable growth of a society and economy,” says the proposal.

 

As more women achieved business opportunities in and outside Japan, single surname system revealed many inconveniences. There are cases in which a business woman cannot open a bank account with her business name. Some were blocked in the reception of hotel in foreign country, because the reservation had been made with her business name different from the name in her passport. Keidanren argues that those disadvantages make business risks.

 

One of the advisory bodies of Minister of Justice, Legislative Council, recommended introducing the selective surname system in 1996, in which both husband and wife do not need to change their surname for their marriage. Although the LDP tried to prepare a bill for the amendment of the Civil Code, the party has not reached submission of the bill to the Diet with firm opposition of the conservative groups in the party.

 

One of the reasons of opposing selective surname is because it may, they believe, break down the tie of families. They argue that the problem will be solved, if the use of business name became more prevalent. Although the LDP established a working team for discussing selective surname system, they are still far from a conclusion. While imposing business people inconveniences brought by the single surname system, the LDP encourages Japanese businesses compete against the world.

 

It is unusual for Keidanren to challenge a conservative cause in the LDP. It has made several proposals for constitutional amendment and welcomed export of defense equipment to foreign countries. However, growth precedes conservative cause for business people. Decline of the conservative power after the death of former prime minister Shinzo Abe might have brought an opportunity for Keidanren to take a distance from the right.

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