October 11, 2018

A record high of 42.5% of Japanese people support a law revision to implement a selective dual-surname system for married couples while opposition fell to a record low of 29.3%, according to a poll the Cabinet Office released in February this year.

The relevant government ministry of justice, however, has not published these results on its website, and keeping putting the result of a poll conducted five years ago (35.5% in favor, 36.4% opposed) on the page.

Based on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which stipulates "the same personal rights as husband and wife, including the right to choose a family name", a UN committee working to end gender inequality has repeatedly instructed Japan for a legal change.

Regarding why the page of the poll results has not been updated, Akahata reported on October 11 that a counsellor of the ministry in charge claimed that it will take more time to renew the page as amendments to the ministry's official website are still under consideration.

Past related articles:
> Couple with different last names sues government for damage caused by imposition of same surname [June 19, 2018]
> 4 couples with different last names seek court recognition that same-surname rule is unconstitutional [March 15, 2018]