Japan's Business Leaders Push for Dual-Surname System
In a significant shift, Japan's powerful business lobbies are aggressively pushing for the introduction of a dual-surname system for married couples. This move reflects the growing number of women in management and executive positions who face inconvenience and potential business risks due to the current mandatory single-surname system.
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) and Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) have criticized the system for hindering business processes. They have submitted petitions and met with government officials, urging them to introduce a surname selection mechanism.
The campaign gained momentum in January when Keidanren, for the first time, called on the government to institute a two-surname framework. Keidanren Chairman Masakazu Tokura, who is also chair of Sumitomo Chemical Co., became the first leader of the business lobby to publicly push for the system.
"I sincerely hope the mechanism will be advanced as the most urgent problem to tackle right now," Tokura said.
Takeshi Niinami, chairman of Keizai Doyukai, echoed this sentiment, stating that catering to diversity is a crucial step for Japan as an industrialized country.
The business groups argue that the current system is outdated and inconvenient, especially for women who continue using their maiden names at work but are legally required to change their surnames after marriage. This discrepancy can lead to confusion and potential business risks, as illustrated by the experience of Naomi Motojima, a managing executive officer from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co.
Motojima faced difficulties while on a business trip to the United States when security guards stopped her at building entrances because her passport name differed from the name she used professionally. This incident highlighted the potential business risks associated with the single-surname system.
Other women have shared similar experiences, such as Masumi Abe, a senior managing director at homebuilder Aida Sekkei Co., who faces confusion and inconvenience due to the discrepancy between her business name and her legal name.
Keidanren plans to work out a proposal for a dual-surname framework in the first half of the fiscal year that starts in April. They will continue to press the government to implement this change, which they believe is crucial for promoting diversity and facilitating business processes in the modern era.