Sapporo residents Mana Sato, 37, and Kiyotaka Nishi, 32, a couple pushing Japan to adopt a selective surname system for married couples, welcomed the new year feeling hope mixed with anxiety. The political parties in favor of allowing separate surnames garnered support in last year's House of Representatives election. While discussions on the matter could move forward in the Diet, the couple remains concerned about the stubborn persistence of conservative opinions.

The two, both medical professionals, married in 2019, and Sato reluctantly agreed to legally change her last name to Nishi upon marriage. At work, her name "Mana Sato" started disappearing, from documents and her name tag. She asked her co-workers to call her by her maiden name, but her boss responded, "Why does it matter so much to you?"

Overcome with stress, Sato felt both physically and mentally ill, and she was diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Though she found her work fulfilling, she had no choice but to leave. If she could have chosen to keep her name, she would not have had to go through such a painful experience. She would have felt happier about her marriage. Her frustration grew.

It was only when Sato told Nishi, "I resent you," that her husband realized the struggle she was going through. Nine months after filing their marriage, the couple divorced to become common-law partners.

Those who argue for maintaining the current system, in which a married Japanese couple must share the same last name, point to "the sense of unity among family members" as a reason. Some criticize those who do not wish to change their surnames as being "selfish." However, this is an issue that concerns individual dignity and calls into question human rights awareness.

It has been 29 years since the Ministry of Justice's Legislative Council recommended the introduction of a selective separate surname system. While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has deferred action on this issue to appease its conservative wing, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has stated that he will "increase the frequency of discussions." This new year, he must respond to the long-standing wish of people like Sato and Nishi, and finally reach a conclusion.

("Yoroku" is a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)