Source:  The Asia-Pacific Journal | Japan Focus Volume 18 | Issue 13 | Number 3 | Article ID 5411 | Jun 25, 2020
Mit freundlicher Erlaubnis von Japan Focus.

Japan’s Marital System Reform: The Fūfubessei Movement for Individual Rights

Etsuko Toyoda

Abstract
This article spotlights a push for human rights amongst Japanese women and men supporting a marital law revision that will allow spouses to maintain their individual surnames. While proponents of the reform comprise a variety of genders, ages, marital status, value systems, and reasons for supporting the reform, they have all experienced, witnessed or contemplated inequity in society – experiences that have shaped their perspectives on the importance of the individual self and life choices, that have prompted their dissatisfaction with marriage laws, social practices, and norms. The fūfubessei movement, which has been considered as a gender-equality movement, should be viewed from the perspective that individuals have the right to make their own decisions about their lives, including their choice of surname.

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