By SHINKAI KAWABE/ Staff Writer
May 21, 2025 at 17:15 JST
Hiroshi Moriyama, left, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and his Komeito counterpart, Makoto Nishida, meet with reporters. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
A split in opinion among the opposition bloc has apparently strengthened the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s resolve to shelve discussions on whether to allow married couples to take separate surnames.
LDP executives on May 20 informed their counterparts in junior coalition partner Komeito that it will be difficult to pass legislation in the current Diet session on changing the current system that permits only one family name for couples.
The LDP has long been criticized for taking a passive stance toward a new surname system. Differing proposals submitted by opposition parties on the surname issue have made it easier for the LDP to continue the delay.
In late April, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted a bill to allow married couples to use different surnames.
On May 19, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) submitted a proposal to maintain the single-name policy but make it legal to use one’s maiden name as a common name after marriage.
LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama and other party executives met with their Komeito counterparts at the May 20 meeting.
Tetsushi Sakamoto, the LDP’s Diet Affairs Committee chairman, said at the meeting that introducing a dual-surname system would have widespread consequences because about 650 laws and 2,700 or so Cabinet and ministerial orders would be affected.
Although Sakamoto said the LDP would continue discussing the matter, a party working group on the issue has not met since April 11.
Komeito had been in favor of a system to allow married couples to choose separate surnames.
But after the meeting, Makoto Nishida, the Komeito secretary-general, said there was a need to consider what the effects would be on local governments from the large number of legal changes required.
Komeito in 2001 submitted a proposal for a dual-surname system.
While it had subsequently discussed the issue internally, Komeito decided not to consolidate a party consensus, following the example set by the LDP.
Nippon Ishin submits bill to Diet to legalize maiden names
May 19, 2025
LDP to resume talks on letting couples use dual surnames
January 8, 2025
Survey: 63% support allowing couples to use dual surnames
February 17, 2025
Deeply split LDP reopens talks on whether to allow dual surnames
February 13, 2025
Okayama to adopt opinion paper opposing dual surnames
March 16, 2021
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