JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Why Does Japan Have So Many Last Names Compared to China and Korea?
Why does Japan have hundreds of thousands of surnames while China and Korea rely on a handful? The answer lies in a…
separate spousal surnames
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
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…
INSIDER
Why Gender Equality is Stalling Under Japan’s First Female Prime Minister
Japan finally has its first female Prime Minister. But that isn't translating into victories for ordinary Japanese women.
POLITICS
“Honorary Man”: Takaichi Sanae Scorned, Shunned by Japanese Feminists
The woman who may be Japan's first prime minister is under fire for her "fossil-like thinking" on women's rights.
INSIDER
Will Separate Spousal Surnames Finally Become Law?
A new bill would allow women in Japan to keep their maiden names. Does it stand a snowball's chance in hell of…
POLITICS
Hikaru Utada Gets Political in Song Lyric About Separate Spousal Surnames
The singer of "First Love" and "Automatic" stirred controversy with a song lyric about Japanese women keeping their maiden names.
WOMEN
Survey: Couples in Japan Believe in Equality – But Women Do All The Housework
People in Kagoshima said that men and women should share housework equally. However, 88% say the reality differs from the ideal.
LGBTQ
Will Japan’s New PM Pass Marriage Equality for LGBTQ People?
A majority in Japan support marriage equality for same-sex couples. But will new PM Ishiba Shigeru do anything about it? Here's what…