Photo/Illutration Married couples must check if the husband's or wife's surname will be used. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Allowing the legal use of a maiden name for business and other purposes will not be sufficient to resolve the issues related to surnames of married couples.

And it would be a stretch of logic if it instead led to postponing the introduction of a system to allow married couples to choose different surnames.

The government has started consideration of legislation to allow for the use of maiden names.

One aim will be to maintain the principle of married couples using the same surname, but resolve the complicated administrative paperwork.

But one’s name is a personal right directly linked to that person’s identity.

For couples who want the option of using different surnames, the principle of using the same surname means the loss of that right.

We ask for thoughtful consideration.

In their coalition agreement, the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) pledged to establish a system that would give legal protection to using maiden names.

At the base of that agreement is Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s own proposal, which would create a system in which maiden names are included in a person’s residential register.

Her proposal also calls on the central and local governments as well as companies to implement the measures needed for such use of maiden names as an alias.

The use of maiden names is currently spreading, and it is also possible to have that name included in residential registers and driver’s licenses.

But according to a 2022 study by the Financial Services Agency, about 30 percent of banks do not allow the opening or maintaining of accounts under maiden names on the grounds they could be abused for criminal use.

While convenience in daily life might improve, the fundamental issue will remain.

Under current law, couples can choose the surname of either the husband or wife, but in an overwhelming 94 percent or so of cases, it is the woman who changes her surname after marriage.

Japan is the only advanced nation to force married couples to use the same surname.

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has on four occasions issued recommendations to the government calling for a revision of what it called a discriminatory measure.

The business sector has also called for early implementation of a system to allow married couples to use separate surnames.

There is no change to the irrationality of sundering the achievements and assessment of work built up using the surname before marriage nor the illogic of having those who use their maiden name at work having to constantly use two surnames depending on the situation.

There are also problems abroad where maiden names may not be as familiar.

While the maiden name can also be listed on a passport, the readable IC chip only allows for the name listed on the family register and this has led to confusion.

Allowing married couples to use different surnames was an issue during the 2024 LDP presidential election and momentum in the Diet also heightened as deliberations began for the first time in 28 years on various bills submitted by the opposition.

But the LDP’s posture was not one encouraging debate as there are some in that party who remain cautious because they feel the proposal would damage family unity.

In 1996, the Legislative Council of the Justice Ministry recommended allowing married couples to choose if they wanted to use different surnames.

We cannot but doubt the method of launching consideration based on a proposal by the prime minister after nothing was done for close to 30 years.

Rather than forcing an ideal view of the family or society on people, what is being called for is a posture of not overlooking the concerns held by each individual.

Deliberations should focus on respect for the individual.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 6

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