Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan Submits Separate Surnames Bill

Apr 30, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has submitted a bill to allow married couples the option of keeping separate surnames, but the initiative has little momentum in the current Diet session due to a lack of support from other parties.

The proposed revision to the Civil Code would let couples choose either a shared surname or retain their original names after marriage. For couples opting for separate surnames, the surname of their children would be determined at the time of marriage, and all siblings would carry the same surname. This framework is based almost entirely on a 1996 proposal from the government’s Legislative Council. The CDP, which had previously pushed a different version of the bill, has shifted its stance in an effort to build broader consensus by adopting the older plan.

Despite this move, unity remains elusive even among opposition parties. Nippon Ishin, for example, opposes the separate surname model. Co-leader Seiji Maehara emphasized maintaining the traditional single-surname system while allowing the legal use of pre-marriage surnames. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party for the People is preparing to submit its own proposal, further fragmenting the opposition’s position.

Within the ruling coalition, discussions have stalled. The Liberal Democratic Party is home to strong internal resistance to allowing separate surnames, resulting in little progress. Komeito Secretary-General Masanori Nishida stated that the party is still coordinating viewpoints with the LDP and is currently monitoring the situation. Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi has called on Prime Minister Ishiba to begin practical discussions, but so far there has been no indication of movement. A senior LDP official bluntly commented that the party has no intention of proceeding and doubted whether many other parties would support the bill.

While the CDP is urging a swift start to deliberations, prospects for passing the legislation during the current Diet session remain uncertain.

Source: TBS

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