Introduction of Nickname Considered

Sanae Takaichi administration starts discussion for submitting a bill to the Diet to officialize using maiden name as nickname in Japanese society, including residents’ registration. Use of maiden name has been one of the Takaichi’s conservative agenda, as an alternative to introduction of selective separate surnames. Forming a coalition with conservative Japan Innovation Party may enable Takaichi to promote the policy.

Current laws in Japan mandates a married couple to choose one of their surnames as their official name for family registration. Most couples use husband’s surnames as their official name. However, as gender equality became prevalent in Japanese society, it became frequent for a business person who has different business surname from official one. Some troubles were found in international businesses, stemming from difference between business name and official name written on passport.

 

With request from business community, lawmakers have been discussing introduction of selective separate surname for any married couples regardless of parties they are affiliated with. Conservative politicians firmly opposed to that discussion, arguing introduction of separate surname would undermine the shape of families in Japan. Takaichi has been advocating an alternative idea to register maiden name as official nickname, as an exception of single surname system.

 

In the October 20th agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the two parties reconfirmed that they would establish a new system for giving maiden name a legal validity, with maintenance of single surname system. They shared a notion that a bill for that policy would be submitted to the ordinary session of the Diet in 2026.

 

The bill they consider is to urge national and local governments and business entities to use maiden names as nicknames in official documents. Although maiden names could be used in drivers’ license or personal identification card called My Number Card, some banks reject maiden name to open or renew an account. This new system was proposed by Takaichi in this spring. Draft of the bill to the Diet is supposed to be discussed based on her idea.

 

However, introduction of official nickname will discourage the momentum for separate surname. There are lawmakers who insist on introducing selective separate surname not only among opposition lawmakers but those with LDP. It is skeptical that maintenance of single surname system would contribute to maintaining family value or individual dignity. While the opposition parties submitted a bill for selective separate surnames to the Diet, the LDP has not concluded its stance on this issue, separated between the lawmakers who realize necessity of different surnames in Japanese society and the conservatives.

 

Both the liberals and conservatives have no difference on using maiden names in businesses or families. The point for them is whether single surname system is maintained, even if it would be a nominal institution.

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