WOMEN
Japanese Announcer Uses Common-Law Marriage to Dodge Country’s Surname Law
TBS announcer Yamamoto Erika kept her name by choosing common-law marriage over a legal one - but she'll get married if the…
koseki
WOMEN
LGBTQ
Osaka High Court: Japan’s Family Registry Discriminates Against Non-Binary People
An Osaka High Court ruling found that Japan's gender-binary family register violates Article 14 of the Japanese Constitution. But it dismissed the…
CULTURE
Why 3,000 People in Japan Claim the Imperial Palace Is Their Home
Japan's registered domicile law means that, when you get married, you can claim you hail from anywhere in the country. And many…
SOCIETY
Poll: Over Half of Married Japanese Women Wanted to Keep Their Maiden Names
Politicians are still duking out the merits of changing the Meiji-era law forcing joint spousal surnames.
LAW & CRIME
Japan to Add “Taiwan” Identification to Family Registry
For the first time ever, Taiwanese citizens who marry or naturalize in Japan will be able to express their identity accurately.
SOCIETY
Acceptance for “Kira Kira” Names? How Japan’s Koseki Rules May Change
The rise of Japanese "kira kira" names with unexpected kanji readings has sparked controversy over the past few decades. Will altering the…
SOCIETY
Why The Mukoseki is Japan’s Deadliest Legal Trap
People without a family registry can die without access to essential services. Divorce law and Japan's koseki system explain why.