(NTV) Japan’s Supreme Court has ruled that married couples must have the same last name, but some see changes brewing in the country’s concept of gender equality and family.
Polls show the public is divided nearly equally about the requirement.
A law from 1898 mandates that married couples have the same last name. They can choose whether to take the husband’s name or the wife’s name.
96 percent of couples opt for the husband’s name.
A group of five women and one man filed suit in 2011 claiming the law was unconstitutional.
They cited issues such as feeling a loss of identity and difficulties with bank accounts and driver’s licenses.
One plaintiff, a published author, said a sudden name change would damage her career.
Two lower courts rejected the case, so the group appealed to the Supreme Court. The court ruled against them this week.
“Married couples sharing a last name is entrenched in society. It’s practical. Disadvantages caused by changing names can be mitigated. Women are free to use their maiden names in work and social situations,” said Chief Justice Itsuro Terada.
The decision may seem like a step back, but there is room to be optimistic.
Only three current justices are women, and there were five votes out of 15 in favor of changing the law.
“The public is now more aware of the choice to have separate names. This is the first step in changing the law,” said the plaitiff’s attorney.
Source: http://bit.ly/1IdGsSa
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