The Diet will probably not be able to work on a planned bill to allow married couples to have different surnames during its current session, Justice Minister Daizo Nozawa said Tuesday, citing the tight legislative schedule.

In a news conference after the day's regular Cabinet meeting, Nozawa said it is doubtful there will be enough time left for the Diet to discuss the bill to authorize the dual-surname system, saying a number of important bills have been or will be proposed during the session.

Nozawa also expressed his personal opposition to the dual-surname system, saying he believes "a married couple should share the same surname." He added that the issues involved need to be thoroughly discussed and a public consensus needs to be reached.

There have been moves within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by former posts minister Seiko Noda, to propose a bill to revise the Civil Code to allow married couples to keep their own surnames.