The World Briefly

April 17, 2024

I Am Sato!

Japan

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A new study found that unless Japan revises its laws to permit separate surnames for married couples, every Japanese citizen could have the surname “Sato” within the next 500 years, the Guardian reported.

Led by Hiroshi Yoshida of Tohoku University, the study projects a concerning trend toward homogeneity if the current practice continues.

Yoshida’s analysis, based on demographic trends, indicated that the proportion of Japanese people named “Sato” is steadily increasing. If this trajectory persists and surname laws remain unchanged, it’s estimated that by 2531, every Japanese individual could bear the name “Sato.”

The study emphasized the potential social and cultural ramifications of such uniformity, highlighting concerns over individual dignity and the erosion of family and regional heritage.

“If everyone becomes Sato, we may have to be addressed by our first names or by numbers,” said Yoshida. “I don’t think that would be a good world to live in.”

Currently, Japanese couples must adopt a single surname upon marriage, typically that of the husband. However, there is mounting pressure for legal reforms to allow spouses to retain separate surnames.

An alternative scenario presented in the study proposed that, with such reforms, the prevalence of the surname “Sato” could decrease significantly in 500 years.

While Japan has allowed the use of maiden names alongside married names in official documents, it remains the only country mandating shared surnames for spouses.

Advocates for surname reform hope the findings will bolster their campaign, which faces opposition from conservative factions within the government who cite concerns over family unity and confusion among children.

This story originally appeared in the April 17, 2024 newsletter, The Cost of Allegiance.