Tokyo Dating Agency Matches Couples with Identical Surnames Amid Japan's Marriage Name Law Debate

Tokyo, April 6, 2026 — A dating agency in Tokyo hosted an event on Friday evening matching three men and three women, all sharing the surname Suzuki, for 15-minute speed-dating sessions. The event aims to draw attention to the challenges posed by Japan's Civil Code, which mandates that married couples adopt a single family name, typically requiring one spouse to change theirs.

Participants gathered at a venue in booths, paired sequentially to discuss compatibility.

The Guardian reported that the initiative highlights widespread reluctance among Japanese individuals to alter their surnames upon marriage, a practice rooted in the country's legal framework since 1898.

750 of the Civil Code requires married couples to choose one surname, with over 95% of cases resulting in women changing their names, according to government data.

This has led to campaigns by activists and politicians to allow separate surnames, with a bill introduced in the Diet in March 2026 to amend the law. The Tokyo event, organized by a local agency, serves as a symbolic protest against the current system. The event involved six participants, evenly split by gender, who were aware of the shared surname theme in advance.

Organizers stated the goal was to foster connections without the barrier of potential name changes, reflecting broader societal shifts toward gender equality in family naming conventions.

“— The Guardian, April 6, 2026”

indicate that around 70% of unmarried Japanese women express unwillingness to change their surnames, citing professional and personal identity concerns. The dating event builds on similar awareness efforts, including petitions that have gathered over 100,000 signatures since 2021.