Separate Surname Left Behind

Voters in Japan voted for the Lower House election on February 8th. The result will be fixed early morning of February 9th. As election campaign continued, one issue was left behind in speeches of party leaders. That was selective separate surname. While the opposition parties demand to introduce selective separate surname of married couples, conservative leading parties argue that using nickname can fulfill the demands of separate surname. Nicknames, anyway, are already common in Japan.

Article 750 of the Civil Code requires a married couple to use a common surname which is husband’s former family name or wife’s one. Legislative Council of Ministry of Justice recommended introduction of selective separate surname in 1996, concerning inconvenience in international business or insufficient assurance of individual human rights. Although the Diet started discussion over selective separate surname under minority government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2025, the momentum was halted after conservative Sanae Takaichi assumed prime minister, forming leading coalition with Japan Innovation Party (JIP).

 

In the Lower House election campaign, the LDP and JIP included legislation for using nickname, instead of separate surname, in their campaign platforms. They recognize inconvenience of single surname system and sympathetic for it. However, they firmly believe that introduction of separate surname will destroy shape of families in Japan.

 

However, nickname is already established in Japanese society. “Sanae Tajkaichi” was a nickname after she was married with Taku Yamamoto in 2004. Although her registered surname was Yamamoto, she used “Takaichi” as her nickname in her political activities as a Representative. She divorced with Yamamoto in 2014 and remarried with him in 2021. The couple chose “Takaichi” as their surname in their second marriage.

 

In fact, current prime minister of Japan is known as “Sanae Takaichi” and the first gentleman “Taku Yamamoto.” Their real surname, however, is “Takaichi.” Taku Yamamoto is a nickname. They distinguish their surname in their offices from their real surname. Prime minister and her husband use different surname. This is nothing but an effective selective separate surname.

 

The opposition parties demand revision of the Civil Code to legally approve using separate surname. Not only the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), but the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) requires introduction of selective separate surname to promote gender equality or diversity of families. Japan Communist Party, Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Social Democratic Party also advocate introduction of not only selective separate surname but same sex marriage.

 

In a survey in 2025, 46.8 percent of respondents thought that separate surname should be a choice, while 26.6 percent needed the same surname for a married couple. It might be a question how long Takaichi can keep on refusing separate surname, even if she maintains her administration after the election.

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