Over 40% of Japanese want to use original family names at work after marriage

In 2021st century JGovt just try to consider and discuss dual surnames. In Japan things can be really slow.

Over 40 percent of Japanese want to keep using their original family names at work after they get married …

So use them!

I personally don’t know of a Japanese company that doesn’t allow someone to keep using their original family name. And the article certainly doesn’t mention any.

I personally don’t know of a Japanese company that doesn’t allow someone to keep using their original family name. And the article certainly doesn’t mention any.

In fact Japanese Business Federation also on the side who pushes this change,

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/24/japan/japan-business-dual-surname/

.

So where's the obstacle come from?

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293942/japans-ruling-ldp-resume-talks-selective-dual-surname-system-married-couples

I think if you check the demographics, professionals would be much higher.

55.2 percent said they "do not want to use them (original family names)."

What do they want to use? I'm especially wondering what the men want to use since their original family name is the default. Do they want to change it to some fantasy name from a manga or anime? Questions abound.

Asiaman7

Today 07:15 am JST

Over 40 percent of Japanese want to keep using their original family names at work after they get married …

> So use them!

> I personally don’t know of a Japanese company that doesn’t allow someone to keep using their original family name. And the article certainly doesn’t mention any

"Allowed to use" and fully using are two different things.

My wife got to keep her surname due to the loophole of marrying a foreigner.

Her company let's everyone keep using their surname after marriage unless hired after already married.

To "use" their original name on a daily basis with coworkers and clients is basically an unofficial situation.

But because of the laws " Yoko Tanaka" as everyone at the office will refer to her will have her tax, health insurance, pension, my number card, etc... all being under "Yoko Suzuki" after marriage because the law requires that, this often leads to confusion in the HR departments especially in larger companies.

the other way of looking at it - over 50% dont ?

zulander - fair point. Let us hope the Govt uses the same logic on revising Article 9. There is a tendency in Japan to abide by public opinion only when it suits them

This is a free gift to politicians. A popular policy that cost hardly anything to implment.

The number of new marriages has crashed since Covid. This is not the time to be bleating on about traditions. Forming a family usually helps people and it helps the economy.

Mrs Kipling kept her own family name because she was smart enough to marry a foreigner. An exceedingly good one.

I can't understand how giving people a choice can be this big of a deal. It is not like people will be forced to have different names, it is just giving people and option.

Where I come from they completely eliminated changing names.

Everyone keeps their name at birth, their children the parents have options of one or the other hyphenated both in any order, etc...

This was done back the the 80s and the best reasoning was saving money!

Right cost of changing things like driver's license, heath insurance, tax, social insurance number, etc...

Then in the event of divorce in most cases the woman wanting to change back and more costs!

Saved millions

My Japanese wife, after 10 years, changed her name to my family name and has no regrets about it. Japan is the only country requiring one family name.

This is a free gift to politicians. A popular policy that cost hardly anything to implement.

Only 43% want to use their original name so it is fact an unpopular policy.

Mr Kipling

Today 05:03 pm JST

This is a free gift to politicians. A popular policy that cost hardly anything to implement.

> Only 43% want to use their original name so it is fact an unpopular policy.

Strange, how do you calculate that.

The 43% can decide not to change and will be happy, those that want to keep changing also can.

So basically 100% of the women can have what they want, so it is a 100% everyone is happy with the possible old men that feel their pride has been hurt!

And I know plenty of companies, doctors, and many other businesses that will also be happy not having to change all their files.

Banks will be happy also, they have to change the bank account names at no charge but it cost then time and money.

So explain how giving 100% of the women what they want isn't a good political move!?

*My wife got to keep her surname due to the loophole of marrying a foreigner.

interested to know in which year and whether you had ROA (10yrs jpn res at that time).

no critique whatever. approx 2002 I think it was only marriage to 'other national' residents. same as now.

Japanese families have a family register or Koseki. When they marry they start a new family register with their name or the name of their Japanese spouse.

Foreigners do not have their family register or Koseki. They are listed on the Koseki of the Japanese spouse. In those cases, the spouse can keep their name or change it to the name of the foreign spouse.

Antiquesaving...

Strange, how do you calculate that.

Simple, by reading the article..

The survey, which solicited responses from both women and men, showed that 43.3 percent want to keep using their original surnames.

thanks wallace, but I desired the son to retain the japan family name anyway. pd Ughk family so wat. Son also needed p/p urgently to get out early 2003. Case study? just get it done. We're happy enough, different none of us gaf.. oops

My wife legally changed her surname to my family name and the very minute she did, City Hall staff called out her new name and ALL heads within hearing distance turned to see who had the Japanese first name and foreign surname. THAT is definitely one reason why some people want to keep their original names in many aspects of life, at least when married to a foreigner. In fact, for a long time I insisted she didn't change it. Some crazy family stuff on her side, though, led to her legally changing it.

She still uses her original name at work and for some other purposes, though not legal purposes.

So instead of talking about flexible work hours and having children....Japan want to deflect with surnames?

Do the people see what is going on here?