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The Japanese government is considering a policy that would allow individuals to use their original surnames alone even after changing their family name due to marriage.
The proposed measure comes from instructions by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to relevant ministers, officials said Thursday.
It will be part of the sixth basic plan for gender equality, which the cabinet is expected to approve later this month.
The government is also exploring legislation to support the policy, which could be submitted during the current parliamentary session.
The plan focuses on defining situations in which individuals can legally use only their premarriage family names.
Currently, the use of original surnames has been gradually expanded, but many cases still require both the original and registered family names, causing inconvenience for some citizens.
Officials said the policy aims to simplify legal processes and provide greater flexibility for married individuals in managing their family names.