Japan remains the only country that legally mandates married couples to share a single surname — a policy that continues to pose structural challenges for academics, particularly women in science.
A comprehensive survey involving over 7,500 researchers across Japan has highlighted the extent to which this legal stipulation disrupts scientific careers. Respondents reported serious professional complications including inconsistent academic credentials, difficulties in patent filing, grant submission hurdles, and issues with international travel documentation. For researchers with an established publication record under their birth name, name changes following marriage often result in a loss of academic continuity.
The data clearly show that changing one’s surname can cause significant disadvantages,” stated neuroscientist Dr. Misa Shimuta, a co-investigator of the survey.
Survey Findings
The survey was conducted by the Inter-Society Liaison Association for Promoting Gender Equality in Science between April and May 2025. Key findings include:
- Over 90% of married female researchers had adopted their spouse’s surname.
- In contrast, only approximately 5% of married male researchers had changed theirs.
- More than 70% of those who changed names continued to use their birth name in professional settings.
- Nevertheless, 78% of respondents using a professional alias (typically their maiden name) still encountered systemic problems, including mismatched records and legal-travel discrepancies.
Firsthand Accounts
Dr. Kyoko Ohno-Matsui, a senior ophthalmologist, professionally employs a hyphenated name. However, during international academic travel, discrepancies between legal and professional identities often create logistical barriers, such as problems checking into hotels.
I didn’t want to change my surname,But it keeps causing logistical problems
She noted
Similarly, Dr. Shimuta continues to publish under her maiden name but frequently encounters administrative difficulties when correcting inconsistencies across legal documents — a process she describes as both exhausting and disheartening.
Dr. Kyoko Okino, a marine geophysicist, deferred legal registration of her marriage for over a decade, hoping for legislative reform. Now nearing retirement, she continues to struggle with the bifurcation of her legal and academic identities.
My surname is part of my identity,There’s no benefit to this law.
Dr. Okino’s experience reflects a generational pattern — her mother, also a scientist, faced the same issue. She now hopes that her daughter’s generation will benefit from a more flexible legal framework.
Legislative Outlook
In early 2025, a bill introduced by Japan’s opposition party proposed amending the Civil Code to permit married couples to retain separate surnames. Although debated in the National Diet, the proposal was not brought to a vote and remains pending.
Until systemic reform is enacted, many researchers — especially women — will continue to face the burden of managing dual identities: one recognized by law, the other by the academic community.
References
- Mallapaty, S. (2025, July 4). Japan requires name change after marriage — with big effects on female scientists. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02081-0
- Associated Press. (2024, February 19). Will Japanese women be able to keep their maiden names after marriage? Major lobby demands change. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/eb3de2d212043bb57e4043f6eb8f4e1d
- McCurry, J. (2024, February 20). ‘Ruining my career’: Calls grow for Japan to change law on married surnames. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/20/japan-married-surname-law-change
