June 20, 2024

Japanese Communist Party Chair Tamura Tomoko on June 19 in her one-on-one debate with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in the Diet demanded that PM Kishida introduce a selective dual surname system without delay.

Tamura noted that the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) recently proposed that the system in question be realized as early as possible, and said, “Long-standing women’s efforts and the civil movement for gender equality finally moved Japan’s largest business lobby.”

Tamura pointed out that while the post-war Constitution upholds equality, under the over 100-year-old Civil Code that obliges married couples to use the same surname, 95% of married women adopt the husband’s last name, though the law does not specify which name is to be selected. Stating, “With the imposition of the single-surname rule, an overwhelming number of women are disadvantaged and have their dignity trampled on,” the JCP chair asked PM Kishida, “Are you aware of the reality women are facing?”

PM Kishida in response said, “I seriously take major negative impacts on women under the current rule.” However, Kishida indicated his unwillingness to introduce the dual surname system by saying, “This issue should be discussed further from various angles.”

Tamura pointed out that PM Kishida claims that separate surnames for married couples may weaken family bonds. She criticized the PM for objecting to the system with his old-fashioned family values based on patriarchy. She stressed, “There are many rational reasons to call for changing the current law to allow couples to keep different surnames without delay. On the other hand, there is no rational and concrete reason to refuse to accept such a demand.” She pushed Kishida to submit to the Diet a bill in this regard.

Past related article:
> Put end to LDP gov’t sticking to outdated family values to create gender-equal Japan [June 17, 2024]