Japan's government will stipulate in its sixth basic program for gender equality the consideration of legislation to legalize pre-marriage surnames. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration plans to enact a bill during next year's ordinary Diet session, following an agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party. The program is expected to be approved by the Cabinet by the end of this month.
Japan's government will include in its sixth basic program for promoting gender equality a stipulation to consider legislation legalizing the use of pre-marriage family names, informed sources said on Saturday. The program, set for Cabinet approval by the end of December 2025, pledges to expand original surname usage, including exploring a system that grants legal validity to birth surnames for all aspects of social life, addressing inconveniences for those who changed names upon marriage.
This development responds to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration's plan to introduce a bill on the issue during the ordinary session of parliament next year, after an agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Nippon Ishin no Kai. The initiative highlights ongoing efforts in family registry, family law, marriage, and women's issues.
A draft outline compiled in August 2025 under Takaichi's predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, mirrored the wording of the fifth basic plan on married couples' surnames. It called for expanding and publicizing birth surname use but omitted any mention of necessary legislation. The sixth program will guide government actions for five years starting from fiscal 2026 to achieve a gender-equal society.