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Candidates of the ruling party seem to be strikingly out of touch with the opposition parties, and even with the junior coalition partner, on issues ranging from married couples being allowed to choose separate surnames to legalizing same-sex marriage.

A joint survey by The Asahi Shimbun and Masaki Taniguchi, a political science professor at the University of Tokyo, asked candidates running in the Oct. 27 Lower House election their views on a number of gender-related issues.

Regarding a legal change to allow married couples to choose separate surnames, 67 percent of all candidates were either in favor or somewhat in favor, while 19 percent were either opposed or somewhat opposed.

But within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a combined 30 percent were in favor while a combined 32 percent were opposed. The gap has narrowed since the 2021 Lower House election when a combined 24 percent of LDP candidates were in favor and a combined 33 percent were opposed.

The views reflected in the latest survey contrast sharply with junior coalition partner Komeito where a combined 98 percent of candidates favor choosing separate surnames.

More than 90 percent of candidates in four opposition parties--Reiwa Shinsengumi, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan--were in favor.

While a combined 71 percent of candidates in Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) were in favor, of that figure 61 percent were only somewhat in favor, indicating a weaker degree of support in comparison to other opposition parties.

Regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage, 58 percent of all candidates were in favor while a combined 21 percent were opposed.

But again, among LDP candidates, only a combined 14 percent were in favor while a combined 41 percent were opposed.

Among Komeito candidates, a combined 90 percent were in favor. No Komeito candidate opposed same-sex marriage.

A majority of candidates from the opposition parties were in favor, with especially strong support for legalizing same-sex marriage among those from Reiwa, the JCP, the CDP and the SDP.

Candidates were also asked their views on introducing a quota system to ensure a certain ratio of female lawmakers and candidates.

Among all candidates, a combined 54 percent were in favor of a quota system while 18 percent were opposed.

While more than 90 percent of candidates in Reiwa, the JCP, the SDP and even Komeito were in favor, only a combined 29 percent in the LDP were in favor while 25 percent were opposed.

Questionnaires were mailed to all 1,344 candidates. These results are based on responses received from 1,233 individuals by the afternoon of Oct. 17, two days after campaigning officially began in the Lower House election.

(This article was written by Tsuneo Sasai and Daiki Koga.)

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