[News Terms] 'Selective Separate Spousal System' Appears in Japan's LDP Presidential Election

In the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election to choose the successor to the Japanese Prime Minister, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who showed an early lead, has recently been on a downward trend, drawing attention to the reasons behind it. Former Environment Minister Koizumi is the second son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and formed a two-horse race with former Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, a 12-term veteran, in the early stages of the election. At the young age of 43 this year, he was regarded as a figure who would reform the LDP and challenged to become the youngest prime minister in Japanese constitutional history, but analysts say the situation is changing from the initial surge. One major factor cited is his flagship pledge of the 'selective separate surnames system for married couples.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to a support rate survey conducted by the private broadcaster Nippon Television (Nittere) from the 20th to 21st among 1,007 LDP members and party supporters (members of LDP-affiliated political organizations), former Secretary-General Ishiba ranked first with 31%. He was followed by Justice Minister Takaiichi with 28%, and former Environment Minister Koizumi with 14%.

Earlier this month, Koizumi stated, "If I become prime minister, I will introduce the selective separate surnames system within a year," but the conservative base opposes this, which is interpreted as having lowered his initial support rate.

Currently, Japan applies a system where married couples share the same surname. Although the husband can take the wife's surname, over 95% of couples take the husband's surname. An interesting study suggests that if this system continues, in about 500 years, everyone's surname will be the currently most common 'Sato' (佐藤).

Professor Hiroshi Yoshida of the Center for Aging Economy and Society at Tohoku University noted that the most common surname among Japanese, Sato, used by 1.5% of the population, increased by 0.83% during 2022?2023. He predicted that if the current shared surname system continues and the share of Sato in surnames grows at the same rate as in the past year, by 2446, 50% of Japanese people will have the surname Sato. Furthermore, he estimated that by 2531, all Japanese will bear the surname Sato.

With recent changes in social atmosphere, including increased female participation in society, voices supporting the 'selective separate surnames system for married couples,' which allows couples to keep their premarital surnames after marriage, are growing louder. A June survey by Mainichi Shimbun showed that 57% of respondents supported the selective separate surnames system, while 22% opposed it, indicating overall favorable public opinion. However, the conservative faction within the LDP differs from this trend. While Koizumi's support rate has faltered, the rise of Takaiichi, who strongly opposes the separate surnames system and holds hardline conservative views, has become prominent.