Tokyo, Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has been flooded with opinions against a selective dual surname system for married couples during a recent public comment period on the issue, Jiji Press learned Wednesday. The number of comments from the public on whether the country should introduce such a system surged over 30-fold from the previous comment period, with over 90 pct of the latest comments expressing negative views. At a meeting of the government’s related expert panel last week, panel members pointed out that there were many awkward-sounding comments, arguing that they appeared to use certain phrases. The head of a group working to realize a dual surname system told Jiji Press that a coordinated effort is suspected behind the negative comments. The government collected comments on its website between Aug. 26 and Sept. 15 over its draft sixth basic plan for promoting gender equality, which was compiled in August. In the draft, the government said it will continue discussions on a dual surname system, as it did in its previous plan. During the comment period for the draft sixth plan, the government received about 18,900 comments from the public, including about 14,040 comments related to the dual surname system. Of them, some 13,040 either expressed opposition to or reluctance about introducing such a system. Only about 980 comments were in favor of such a system. During the previous comment period for the fifth basic plan, the government received about 5,640 comments. Only 450 comments discussed the selective dual surname system, and most of them backed it. In the latest survey, many opponents of the dual surname system expressed concerns about parents and their children having different surnames, and about family breakdown. Others said that expanding the use of maiden names will be sufficient. Supporters of the dual surname system said that forcing married couples to take the same surname is a human rights violation. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
EXCLUSIVE: Govt Flooded with Public Comments against Dual Surnames
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