On The Surname Law In Japanese Civil Code

Japanese Civil Code stipulates that all married couples must take the same surname no matter they are willing to or not.So one side of those couples have to change their surnames once they are married.There is theoretically no gender inequality between men and women in this law,however in 96%cases of Japanese marriages,the couples tend to take the husbands’ surnames.So in most cases surname changing has caused great inconvenience on the women’s side.The thirst for dual surnames in marriage has been increasing along with Japanese women’s social progress.The biggest difference between Japanese marriage law and its Chinese counterpart is that they stipulate surnames used in marriage differently.Chinese marriage law allows dual surnames in marriage,so everyone in a matrimonial relationship including women does not have to change surname for marriage.On the contrary,Japanese Civil Code stipulates that surname change is a legal duty for marriage.The writer wishes to find out the problems about and give some suggestions for the current Japanese marriage law about married couple with the same surname through comparing how the laws of both countries stipulate about surnames in married couples.