Why Everyone in Japan Will Be Called Sato by 2531: Debate Over Married Surnames
In a thought-provoking study led by Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor of economy at Tohoku University, a startling projection has been made: unless Japan revises its civil code to allow married couples to use separate surnames, every Japanese citizen will share the surname "Sato" by the year 2531. This prediction, while seemingly far-fetched, raises pertinent questions about the cultural, societal, and legal implications of Japan's current stance on married surnames. Japan's existing civil code, which dates back to the late 1800s, mandates that married couples must adopt a single surname, with the overwhelming majority of cases seeing the woman changing her name. This tradition, rooted in patriarchal norms, has been increasingly scrutinized in modern times, with calls for reform gaining momentum. The crux of the issue lies in the preservation of individual identity and autonomy within the institution of marriage. By compelling spouses to share a surname, Japan risks erasin...
