Tag - names

 
 

NAMES

In the past three reports in 2003, 2009 and 2016, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended a revision to Article 750 of the country's Civil Code, which mandates the same surname for married couples.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 18, 2024
U.N. panel reviews Japan's women policies, including on surnames
It was the U.N. committee's first review of Japan in eight years.
Masahiko Uotani (third from left), head of Keidanren's diversity promotion committee, hands its proposal on a separate surname system for married couples to members of a lawmaker group focused on realizing such a system, in June.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 24, 2024
Japan's top business lobby group pushes for separate surnames option
In response to Keidanren's push, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party held internal discussions on the issue for the first time in about three years.
Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates after a campaign event in Nagoya on Saturday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 18, 2024
LDP leader candidates split on separate surnames for married couples
While party conservatives worry about damaging family unity, others say it’s time to push through a legislative change.
Japan is the only country in the world that still enforces a same-surname rule for married couples, according to Keidanren research.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 10, 2024
Japan should let married women keep names, main business lobby says
Keidanren said in a proposal that the government should quickly present legislation allowing for surname choice to parliament.
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
JAPAN
May 15, 2024
Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years
The review is due to be submitted as early as next spring.
Plaintiffs in a suit against the government over a law that requires married spouses to have the same surname arrive at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo on March 8.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 1, 2024
By 2531, everyone in Japan could have the surname 'Sato'
The forecast is based on the premise that the current practice of requiring married couples to share the same surname continues.
Plaintiffs who have filed a lawsuit over Japan's separate surname rule head into the Tokyo District Court on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 8, 2024
Group files lawsuit over Japan law that mandates couples share a surname
Similar lawsuits have been filed before, but public opinion appears to be shifting in favor of allowing couples to have separate surnames.
Japan is the only country with a law requiring married couples to adopt the same surname. In 95% of cases, it is women who take their husband's name.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 7, 2024
The land where single surnames are the only option
The business lobby recently joined calls for Japan to accept separate surnames after marriage. What, then, is standing in the way of change? Politics.
Gender-neutral names were more popular for Japanese babies born in 2023, a survey has found.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 5, 2023
Popularity of gender-neutral Japanese names rose in 2023
The annual ranking by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance, released Monday, showed that unisex names have risen in popularity.
Yuuki Matsumoto, formerly Yuni, at his residence in Yokohama on Aug. 24. Japanese children with unconventional names can face societal and practical challenges unique to their country and its written language. Matsumoto, 24, was bullied over his name to the extent he dropped out of school, and had it legally  changed this year.
JAPAN / Society
Dec 3, 2023
Unusual names can complicate life in Japan. Now parents are being reined in.
As such names have increased, so has attention to cases of people unhappy with them. But critics say new rules may infringe on the right to be creative.
A couple that supports a system allowing the use of separate surnames, in Tokyo in October 2021
JAPAN / Society
Aug 23, 2023
61% in Japan back separate surnames for married couples
A think tank sent forms to 16,470 households in July last year and analyzed responses from 5,518 women with spouses.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jul 17, 2023
Firms and authorities stop requiring staff to display names amid harassment
Concerns have been raised that name tags showing full names can lead to people identifying workers' personal information on social media.
Japan Times
LIFE
Jan 7, 2023
Across Japan, baby names are getting more creative
Despite a government-managed list of acceptable kanji, parents are choosing more unique readings for their children than ever before.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 17, 2022
WHO vows nothing 'ridiculous' as public submits ideas to rename monkeypox
Often disease names are chosen behind closed doors by a technical committee, but this time the WHO has decided to open up the process to the public.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 13, 2021
Japan's main opposition CDP focuses on progressive issues in party platform
The largest opposition party said it would stand for rights like supporting same-sex marriage and different surnames for couples, marking out differences with the conservative ruling LDP.

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