As the presidential elections approach in Japan, the debate around selective surnames for married couples remains lukewarm. Advocates have long argued for the right for spouses to retain their individual surnames, breaking away from a tradition that mandates a shared family name after marriage. Though the legal system is slowly changing to support these reforms, the lack of enthusiastic discussions during the current leadership race has highlighted the sluggish progress of this socio-cultural issue.

In Japan, the debate around selective surnames touches on profound aspects of the society's cultural, historical and legal norms. The surname law—which requires a newly married couple to adopt the same surname—reinforces the traditional Japanese family structure, where the husband's surname is typically adopted. This creates an issue of personal identity for many women and a potential barrier to gender equality.

In contrast to Japan, the United States and many EU countries do not have a legal requirement for married couples to share the same surname. The choice is left to the individual couple, reflecting the societal value placed on personal independence and autonomy. This freedom allows for greater flexibility and accommodation of diverse cultural and personal values.