Japan’s Justice Minister Proposes Legal Basis for Sole Use of Maiden Names After Marriage

Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita announced his intention to introduce legislation that would allow married individuals to retain and legally use only their maiden names. He emphasized that the measure would create a formal legal basis rather than treating maiden-name usage merely as an alias.

Japan Times

Japan’s current family-register system requires spouses to share a common surname, a practice reinforced by the Civil Code. In 2015, the Supreme Court acknowledged that mandatory surname changes can diminish personal identity and suggested that broader acceptance of maiden names could mitigate these disadvantages, though it stopped short of mandating legal change. Public debate has also focused on a “selective dual-surname” system that would let couples use both surnames; Yamashita stressed that this issue is distinct from establishing a legal right to use only a maiden name.

Japan Times

Yamashita indicated that a bill will be submitted to the Diet, and that he will explain its intent and design when it is presented. He suggested that amendments to the Civil Code or the family-register law may not be necessary, positioning the proposal as a separate legal pathway. The minister framed the move as a response to “the natural desire” of many individuals to continue using their familiar maiden names in everyday life, even when they do not adopt separate surnames.

Japan Times

In the same interview, Yamashita outlined plans for the Employment for Skill Development program, slated to replace the Technical Intern Training program in April of the following year. He pledged strict enforcement against illegal residents while emphasizing a medium- to long-term approach to accepting foreign nationals, noting the need to balance labor shortages with community capacity and language-support initiatives.

Japan Times

If enacted, the legislation would give married citizens a clear legal mechanism to retain their maiden names, potentially reducing identity-related concerns highlighted by the Supreme Court. The minister’s next step is to present the bill to parliament, after which parliamentary debate will determine whether the proposal proceeds without broader civil-code revisions.

Japan Times