A Japanese couple walks in the Gion area of Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations. Public opinion in Japan is on the side of allowing women to maintain their original surnames. Photo: EPA-EFE
What’s in a surname? Japanese PM Suga stirs hopes that married women can depart from convention
- Japan’s civil code requires married couples to have the same surname, but the prime minister’s recent comments suggest change is afoot
- A recent survey showed that 70.6 per cent of respondents were in favour of such a change
A Japanese couple walks in the Gion area of Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations. Public opinion in Japan is on the side of allowing women to maintain their original surnames. Photo: EPA-EFE
