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The practice where married couples share the same family surname, typically the husband's surname in Japan.
法律上、夫婦同姓は義務ではありませんが、社会的な慣習として広く行われています。
Legally, same-surname marriage is not mandatory, but it is widely practiced as a social convention.
夫婦同姓を選ぶ人が多い一方で、別姓を選択する動きも広がっています。
While many choose same-surname marriage, movements advocating for separate surnames are also growing.
In Japan, the Civil Code (Article 750) allows married couples to choose either the husband's or wife's surname as their family name, but the vast majority opt for the husband's surname due to social norms. Separate surnames (夫婦別姓, ふうふべっせい) are legally permitted but less common.
In Japan, the same-surname tradition stems from the ie (家) system, where a family's continuity is tied to a single surname. While legally optional since 1898, social pressure maintains its prevalence. Discussions about 夫婦同姓 often intersect with gender equality debates.
Legally, couples can choose either surname (Article 750 of the Civil Code), but socially, the husband's surname is the default expectation. Separate surnames (別姓) are legally recognized but require additional steps.
Composed of 夫婦 (ふうふ, 'married couple') and 同姓 (どうせい, 'same surname'). The term reflects traditional Japanese marital customs where a couple adopts a unified family name post-marriage.
Primarily used in legal, social, or news contexts discussing marriage customs. Avoid using in casual conversation unless discussing marital traditions specifically.