According to a joint survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun and the University of Tokyo's Taniguchi Masaki Laboratory, 47% of those elected in the recent House of Representatives election oppose the legalization of optional separate surnames, an increase from previous years where support was higher. This represents the first time since the 2014 House election that opposition has outnumbered support. Furthermore, a significant majority of 76% support extending the use of maiden names, as advocated by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, indicating a clear divide in public sentiment regarding the names used post-marriage.

The issue of optional separate surnames has been a long-standing topic of debate in Japan, having been proposed for legal introduction as early as 1996, but progress has been slow. Recent demands from the business community and proposed legislation from smaller ruling parties have brought renewed focus on the issue, which was discussed in the Diet for the first time in 28 years. After the party leadership changed, Takaichi’s cautious approach towards the introduction has shaped the current political landscape as she joined forces with the Japan Innovation Party to include maiden name usage in the coalition agreement.

In the survey conducted, the inquiry focused on whether it should be legally permitted for couples to use their pre-marriage family names if they so desire. Support for this view has dropped significantly to 30%, less than half of the 69% recorded during the previous House election in 2024. Meanwhile, opposition grew to 47%, more than triple the previous figure of 15%. Among the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), opposition to these reforms stands at 63%, while other smaller parties exhibit varying levels of support, indicating a complex and divided political stance on the issue of surname reforms in Japan.