Synopsis
A recent Cabinet Office survey reveals that over 40% of Japanese individuals prefer to retain their original surnames at work after marriage. The survey highlights notable differences among age groups and genders regarding this preference, as well as insights into perceptions of gender equality in Japan.Key Takeaways
- Over 40% of Japanese individuals prefer original surnames at work.
- Support is highest among those in their 30s, at 57.8%.
- Gender disparities exist in surname preferences.
- Only 16.7% believe men and women are treated equally in society.
- Welfare applications in November 2024 reached a decade-high.
Tokyo, Feb 5 (NationPress) A recent survey conducted by the Cabinet Office reveals that over 40% of Japanese individuals prefer to keep their original surnames at work after getting married. Specifically, 43.3% of participants indicated a desire to maintain their birth names in the workplace, reflecting a 4.2 percentage point increase from a similar survey conducted in 2023. Conversely, 55.2% of respondents expressed a preference for adopting their spouse's surname.
Support for retaining original names was particularly notable among individuals in their 30s, with 57.8% favoring this choice.
Gender disparities were also evident in the findings. Among men, 47.7% supported the concept of keeping their original surname at work, which is an increase of 3.5 points compared to the last survey. In contrast, 39.6% of women were in favor, representing a 4.9-point rise.
The survey also explored attitudes toward gender equality in Japan. When asked if they believe men and women are treated equally by society, only 16.7% of respondents answered positively.
Conducted with a sample of 5,000 Japanese men and women aged 18 and older, the survey achieved a response rate of approximately 53.3%.
In related news, data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that welfare applications reached 22,320 in November 2024, representing a 1.6% increase compared to the same month in the previous year and the highest figure for November in the past decade.
This increase in applications has been attributed to the rise in single-person households and an aging population.
As of November 2024, there were 1,651,995 welfare-recipient households, reflecting a modest decrease of 0.1% when compared to November 2023.
In light of ongoing inflation and rising food prices, the ministry has encouraged individuals experiencing financial difficulties to seek support from local government offices.
