(Update) CDP Submits Bill for Selective Surnames

   Tokyo, April 30 (Jiji Press)--The leading opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan proposed Wednesday a bill to allow married couples to choose different surnames.
   The bill to amend the Civil Code for the introduction of a selective surname system was submitted by the CDP alone to the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament.
   As the first proposer of a selective surname-related legislation during the ongoing regular Diet session, the party hopes to heighten the momentum for revising a legal clause prohibiting spouses from using separate surnames on their family registry.
   But it remains to be seen whether the CDP bill can win support from other parties that advocate the broad idea of giving surname options to married couples but have their own opinions, critics said.
   "The point at issue is whether married couples should be forced to share the same surname or allowed to choose different ones by law," Kiyomi Tsujimoto, acting CDP head, told reporters.

(2025/04/30-15:19)