Selective marriage surname What the PLD thinks against the opposition “I felt a lack of understanding and discriminatory thinking”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

Regarding the implementation of the “selective system of matrimonial surnames” that allows the desired couple to give their surname before marriage, the problem that the PLD parliamentarians sent a document requesting that the local assembly not adopt a written opinion in favor of the introduction of the system. Takumi Tamura (49), former president of the Saitama Prefectural Assembly, who received the document, responded to this newspaper’s interview. Mr. Tamura was originally against the system. I asked him why he turned to “agree”. (Kai Okuno)

◆ I can’t imagine the troubles of the holidays

-In the past, I was against the selective last names of married couples.

When the selective marital surname system was introduced, he assumed it would have an impact on his family. I have not thought much because neither my family nor relatives have divorced and my parents and children have the same last name. When asked about his position, he answered “No”, but could not imagine the problems of the parties.

I was also concerned that the introduction of the system would lead to reverse discrimination, such as “You cannot enter our house” (because you may have a different last name).

-What made you decide to accept?

In short, I heard the voices of the parties. Like me, many people who oppose the system have decided that it has an impact on their families and children.

In August last year, a close member of the Diet, Keisuke Suzuki (Liberal Democratic Party), asked me to hear from Mr. Naho Ida, the general secretary of the “National Petition / Last Name Action for Selective Married Couples” civil society. “To be honest, at first I just replied, ‘I can’t live up to my expectations,’ and I wasn’t positive.

◆ “It does not affect the family”

-When did you change your mind?

As I met and listened to Mr. Ida, I was convinced that the introduction of a selective system of marital surnames would not affect my family. Only Japan forces the same last name of a married couple at the time of marriage. Looking at the world, there are many countries with different surname systems, but families and children are not unhappy.

Even in Japan, parents and children can have different last names if they have divorced or remarried their children. I reconsidered that it was strange to assume that it would affect children. After that, I studied by reading books and treatises that can be viewed on the web. How childish was my baseless “opposition”? It was something important that I could not refute.

-The selective system of marital surnames is in favor of parties other than the Liberal Democratic Party.

It is a problem within the PLD. The document I received had the names of 50 members of the opposition, but only 50 of the 400 members of the Liberal Democratic Party. Due to the content of the document, I felt a lack of understanding and discriminatory thinking. I would like the followers to explain the population of the opponents one by one. I also post it on YouTube (PLD Saitama Prefectural Youth Office channel).

◆ Listen to the voices of the parts

-What do you want to say to the opponents?

Hear the voices of the parties who want a different surname system. For whatever reason, I was excluding the people who came to the request. It may have been wrong for gender and gender equality. Sorry.

The problem is that half of married people do not change their surnames, so the parties are inevitably a minority. The role of politics is to be close to that sincere sentiment. It must be respected as a basic human right and no one will be in trouble even if the system is introduced. I would like you to seriously consider whether you can refute the views of those who seek the system.