In a world where traditions and conventions have taken a backseat, Japan’s marriage laws still cling to the past, requiring married couples to have the same surname. While this common practice sees wives adopting their husband’s name, same-sex marriages continue to be prohibited. The country now faces the possible reality of a majority of its population bearing the same name, specifically Sato, by 2531, according to a study led by economist Hiroshi Yoshida. Surnames like Suzuki and Takahashi follow close behind in popularity, with Yoshida’s research commissioned by the Think Name Project, a group pushing for legal changes that will enable couples to retain their individual last names.
Despite the government’s efforts to address the rapidly declining marriage rate, the number of marriages plummeted by almost 6% in 2023, marking the first time figures had fallen below 500,000 in 90 years. Divorces, on the other hand, rose by 2.6% the same year. A shrinking population has left Japan struggling to maintain social functions and jeopardizes its very existence as a nation. Thus, the fight to preserve the diversity of Japanese surnames faces the challenge of overturning deeply ingrained traditions and adjusting to modern social changes.
Historically, East Asian names have displayed less variation than those found in Western countries, with nearly 86% of China’s population sharing only 100 surnames. The natural extinction of last names links to a process known as the Galton-Watson process, a phenomenon observed in patriarchal societies as wives take on their husbands’ surnames, causing names to disappear over time with each new generation.
With no end in sight to Japan’s marriage and population decline, the movement for changing the surname rules faces significant obstacles. Legal reforms will be essential in enabling couples to maintain their separate identities while battling against centuries-old social norms. Until that happens, forces such as marriage, —or a lack thereof,— and changing societal values may shape the destiny of Japan’s surnames, and ultimately, the cohesiveness of their communities.
