LDP Grapples with Dual-Surname Debate Amid Political Rivalry

At a recent meeting at the party headquarters, Ichiro Aisawa, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party’s working team on the family name system, addressed about 50 lawmakers as the debate over dual-surname provisions continued to cause division. Aisawa emphasized the need to find a balanced resolution that respects both the evolving social values and the traditional practices that many in Japan hold dear.

Within the party, sentiments vary markedly. Lawmakers backing the dual-surname system argue for upholding the right of individuals to retain their original family names, highlighting the importance of personal identity after marriage. In contrast, other members, including Sanae Takaichi, stressed the longstanding role of the family register system, which requires married couples to adopt a single surname, noting that administrative processes could be streamlined even if couples were allowed to keep their names.

The working team’s meeting focused on outlining the current issues without settling on any specific legal reforms, and plans to meet weekly indicate that a unified consensus is still uncertain. Some LDP lawmakers have warned that if the party fails to adequately address the issue, opposition efforts to pass legislation favoring the dual-surname system in the Lower House could succeed.

Further complicating matters, the ruling coalition’s diminished majority in the Diet has intensified political maneuvers. Opposition parties have been quick to seize on the internal strife, with previous collaborative efforts in 2022 to propose a Civil Code revision aimed at introducing a dual-surname system. However, differences remain among these parties, and while most express essential support for the change, details such as when a child’s surname should be determined continue to stir debate.