New justice minister eager to legalize sole use of maiden names

New Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita expressed eagerness in a recent interview to legalize the sole use of maiden names after marriage.

While the details of the planned legislation are “still under consideration,” Yamashita said that he will “carefully explain its intentions and the design of the system when a bill is submitted to parliament.” He noted that he does not think amendments to the Civil Code or the family register law are necessarily required.

Addressing calls for the introduction of a selective dual surname system for married couples, Yamashita, who doubles as minister for gender equality, stressed that it is a “serious mistake” to think that legalizing the use of maiden names would become unnecessary if such a system were adopted.

“Even among those who do not choose separate surnames, there is a natural desire to continue using their long-familiar maiden names in social life,” the minister said. “The issue of a selective dual surname system and that of establishing a legal basis for the use of maiden names are separate issues.”

Asked about concerns that changing surnames upon marriage can result in a loss of personal identity, Yamashita said that he understands and shares such concerns.

“The Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling noted that such disadvantages could be mitigated to some extent through the wider use of maiden names as commonly used names, but that alone is not sufficient,” he said. “I want to provide a legal basis for the use of maiden names, rather than treating them merely as aliases, and clarify as much as possible the circumstances in which they may be used.”

On policies concerning foreign nationals, Yamashita promised to make the utmost efforts to ensure the smooth launch of the new Employment for Skill Development program, which will replace the Technical Intern Training program in April next year. “At the same time, we intend to take strict measures against illegal residents,” he also said.

Asked about Japan’s future approach to accepting foreign nationals, Yamashita stressed, “It’s not simply a matter of bringing in foreigners because Japan faces labor shortages.”

“We need to consider how many foreign residents local communities can accommodate, and whether Japan has adequate systems in place to support them,” he continued.

He pledged to “take a medium- to long-term perspective while strengthening the country’s capacity to accept foreign residents, including developing programs to help foreign residents learn the Japanese language and Japanese rules.”