Japan requires married couples to share a surname, so matchmakers are pairing singles who already have the same one to avoid changing it
A Japanese advocacy group helped organize the events to highlight a 128-year-old law that requires married couples to share the same surname.
Japan mandates that married couples adopt the same surname, a rule that has sparked concerns among singles. To address this issue, a Japanese NGO called Asuniwa, along with matchmaking service provider IBJ, organized a series of matchmaking events for individuals sharing the same family name. The goal was to encourage these individuals to wed without the need to change their surname.
The most prevalent surname in Japan is Sato, with the second most common being Suzuki. Traditionally, women in Japan often relinquish their surname upon marriage. This practice has been a contributing factor to Japan's declining birth rate, with 31.9% of women surveyed in 2021 expressing reluctance to marry due to the process of changing their surname.
Asuniwa aims to assist some couples in securing marriage without the added stress of name changes. If current laws persist, Japan is projected to have a uniform surname, Sato, by 2531. Despite efforts to boost birth rates, including financial incentives and improved parental leave policies, Japan continues to grapple with a declining population.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, as it poses a significant threat to Japan's vitality.
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