Photo/Illutration Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, at a news conference on Jan. 7 (Takeshi Iwashita)

At the urging of its junior coalition partner, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to resume discussions on the “neglected” issue of whether to let married couples use separate surnames.

LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama told a news conference on Jan. 7 that the party will restart deliberations at its working team on the family name system “as soon as possible.”

Although the LDP remains cautious about allowing married couples to have different surnames, coalition partner Komeito and many opposition parties support a dual-surname system.

Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito on Dec. 18 called on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is the LDP president, to start talks on the issue between policymakers from the two parties.

The LDP convened a meeting of the working team for the first time in three years in July, after Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) called for early introduction of the two-name system.

But proceedings have since been suspended due to the LDP leadership contest in September and the Lower House election in October.

The LDP’s losses in that election have raised the hopes of those seeking the choice of retaining their family name after marriage.

Opposition parties in favor of the dual-surname system, such as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, gained strength in the election.

At a news conference on Dec. 24, Ishiba said he plans to speed up debates within the LDP.

“As a party, we want to discuss the issue more frequently and deeply, being fully aware that most opposition parties, Komeito and the business community are of the opinion that (the two-name system) should be introduced,” Ishiba said.

Many conservative LDP lawmakers are opposed to the dual-surname system, saying it would undermine a sense of family togetherness.

They favor expanding opportunities where married couples can use their original family names even after selecting a single surname for the family register, as required by law.

For example, many companies allow married women to use their maiden names in the workplace even after legally taking their husband’s surname.

But many female corporate executives said they cannot open bank accounts or create credit cards under those names, according to Keidanren.

The Civil Code says, “A husband and wife shall adopt the surname of the husband or wife in accordance with that which is decided at the time of marriage.”

In 95 percent of marriages, the wives take the family name of their husbands.

Revisions to the Civil Code to introduce the dual-surname system could be discussed during the ordinary Diet session expected to be convened on Jan. 24.

The CDP is expected to submit a bill to amend the Civil Code in line with similar legislation that the largest opposition party introduced in 2022 with the Democratic Party for the People and the Japanese Communist Party, among other parties.

The Diet did not discuss the opposition-sponsored bill at the time.

“The issue that has lain neglected for years will finally be open for discussions,” CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda has said.

The Lower House Committee on Judicial Affairs, which deliberates the Civil Code, is now chaired by CDP lawmaker Chinami Nishimura following the party’s election gains.

The post had previously been held by LDP members.

The parties that support the dual-surname system, which also include Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Social Democratic Party, may account for a majority of Lower House seats if Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) joins the fold.

In the Lower House election, the second-largest opposition party distanced itself from the CDP and other proponents by advocating a system that would give legal ground to the use of pre-marriage family names.

Still, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who was elected Nippon Ishin leader after the election, said he supports the two-name system at a news conference on Dec. 25.

Yoshimura said he plans to discuss the issue within the party, saying there needs to be a substantial reason if the party changes its campaign promise.

Seiji Maehara, the party’s co-representative, has expressed support for the dual-surname system.

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