Japan Faces Future of Single Surname Scenario by 2531, Study Finds

Growing calls for legal reform and a recent lawsuit challenge the country's restrictive marriage surname laws.

A study by Tohoku University projects that everyone in Japan could have the surname "Sato" by 2531 if current surname laws remain unchanged.
Japan's restrictive marriage laws, requiring married couples to share a surname, are under scrutiny with growing calls for reform.
A class action lawsuit against the current surname policy was filed earlier this month, challenging its constitutional basis.
The declining marriage and birth rates in Japan could potentially alter the projection, alongside the country's shrinking population.
Advocates for surname diversity warn that losing diverse surnames could lead to a loss of cultural, regional, and family heritage.