Japan Press Weekly

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2020 November 18 - 24 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

70% in opinion poll support demand for 'dual surnames'

In an online opinion poll jointly conducted by researchers and a civic group, more than 70% of respondents answered in favor of a "selective dual surname system".

A Waseda University research team and a citizens' organization working to promote the introduction of a system allowing married couples to have different surnames announced this outcome on November 18 at a press conference. They surveyed 7,000 men and women nationwide aged between 20 and 59 in October through the Internet.

According to the survey results, 35.9% answered that they "prefer common marital names but do not mind if other couples choose separate surnames", and 34.7% answered they "prefer selective dual surnames and do not mind if other couples choose to use separate surnames or the same surname". Combined, those who support a selective dual surname system accounted for 70.6%.

In contrast, 14% of the respondents were opposed to the system, answering that they "prefer common marital names and that other couples should also have the same family names".

Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, in response to a question by Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting on November 6, stated that he as a lawmaker had once advocated the introduction of a selective dual surname system and said, "I am responsible for what I as a politician called for."

An activist of the movement for alternative surnames at the press conference welcomed PM Suga's past activity and said, "This could be a breakthrough in the introduction of a selective dual surname system."

Past related articles:
> Tokyo High Court backs legal system forcing married couples to use same surnames [October 24, 2020]
> PM Abe makes false claim that selective dual surname system has little public support [October 12, 2019]
> Abe rejects dual surname system saying, ‘It will hardly contribute to economic growth’ [July 3, 2019]