Constitutional Democratic Party Proposes Bill for Different Surnames for Married Couples

On Wednesday, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) of Japan, which is the largest opposition party in the parliament, presented a legislative proposal that would permit married couples to maintain separate surnames. This initiative is the first phase of what promises to be an extensive discussion over the upcoming two months regarding the bill.

In their efforts to challenge the ruling coalition, the CDP aims to create a solid front by collaborating with other opposition parties. However, emerging divisions within the opposition suggest that reaching a consensus may require further negotiations to facilitate the passage of the bill. Following the submission of the proposal, Kiyomi Tsujimoto, an acting leader and Upper House lawmaker for the CDP, indicated the party's intention to identify areas of agreement with other political factions in parliament.