Allow Married Couples to Keep Different Surnames
進捗:
新規
作成日:
Japan is the only country in the world where married couples are legally required to use the same surname, and in around 95% of cases it is the wife who changes her name. This is increasingly recognised as a business issue: in June 2024, Keidanren called for swift legal reform, with its chairman stating that "amid an advance in women's empowerment and an increase in female executives, the issue of surnames is becoming a business risk." For EBC member companies, the current system creates friction for women who have built professional reputations under their maiden name. Only about half of Japanese companies permit the use of maiden names at work, and even then only partially.
提案
- Amend Article 750 of the Civil Code to introduce an optional dual-surname system, allowing each couple to choose freely at the time of marriage
- Align official documentation (residence cards, passports, securities reports) to fully recognise both surnames where applicable
- Ensure companies are not permitted to restrict or disadvantage employees who exercise this right
- Use this reform to signal Japan's alignment with international standards on individual rights and talent inclusion