The Last Name Law: A Symbol of Japan's Marriage Paradox Japan's 128 year old law requiring married couples to share a surname has sparked controversy, particularly in Tokyo where matchmaking events paired singles with the same last name.
This phenomenon is closely tied to Japan's plummeting birth rate, which hit an all time low in 2023.
The government has attempted to address this issue through various measures, including expanding child allowances and fertility treatments. However, these efforts have shown limited success.