[Good Couples Day] Ryuchell: "Facing the issue of optional separate surnames for married couples will deepen family ties" ~ "School General Election Project" - A social project connecting junior and senior high school students with politics and society ~

2020.11.22 Press Releases
CCC Marketing Co., Ltd. / T Point Japan Co., Ltd.

- "School General Election Project" is a social project that connects junior and senior high school students with politics and society.

Culture Convenience Club (CCC) Group's CCC Marketing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Kazuhiko Kitamura) and T-Point Japan Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroaki Nagashima) have launched the "School General Election Project" ( https://youthvote.tsite.jp/ ) held the "Let's Talk About Selective Separate Surnames for Married Couples!" event in Shibuya, Tokyo on Sunday, November 22nd, which was "Good Couples Day."

The School General Election Project is based on CCC's founding intention of "providing a base for young people with information on new lifestyles," and is a "place" where young people who will be responsible for the future can co-create new discoveries and ideas that will serve as the foundation for living in the future. The aim of this social project is to create opportunities for young people in their twenties, from junior high and high school students to those in their twenties, to make politics and society their own, to set questions and deepen discussions, and to embrace diversity while retaining their individuality even in a highly competitive international society.

The event featured Ryuchell, Arca Inc. CEO/Creative Director Tsuji Asako, House of Councillors member Otokita Shun, and second-year high school students Katayama Yoshika and Kawahara Mana.

At the beginning of the event, Ishii from CCC Marketing said, "Today is Good Couples Day, so I thought it would be a good time to think about optional separate surnames for married couples, so I chose this as the theme. In Japan, the Civil Code requires couples to use the same surname, but the "optional separate surnames system" allows couples to use their own surnames if they wish. While there are arguments in favor of this, such as the fact that it saves the cost of changing one's name, makes it easier to maintain one's career and social credibility, and allows one to protect one's feelings about one's own surname, there are also arguments against it, arguing that if married couples have different surnames, "the sense of unity within the family will be lost," "it will mean accepting individualistic ideas," and "there will be an increase in marriages and divorces without clear boundaries."I hope that this event will provide an opportunity to think and talk about the future of families and marriages. " I explained the purpose of the event.

We also invited second-year high school students Kawahara Mana and Katayama Yoshika to speak to us about their opinions on the "optional separate surnames for married couples" policy. Kawahara said, "I knew about it, but I never had a chance to think about it. This event gave me the opportunity to really confront this issue. I support the option of separate surnames for married couples. I think expressions such as "marrying into a marriage" and "marrying into a marriage" are also used to rank the positions of husband and wife. I felt that this system was not suited to the times. ” he commented.

Katayama said, "I like my last name, so if my partner wants to have the same last name, I would like them to have mine. It might be interesting if a trend were to emerge in which women propose by asking their husbands, "Would you like to take my last name?" (laughs). "People of my generation were excited, with some even suggesting, 'Why not combine the two surnames?'" he said, expressing opinions that were not bound by stereotypes.

The important thing about optional separate surnames for married couples is that it is "optional."

In the second half of the event, Ryucheru, Tsuji, and Otokita took the stage for a panel discussion on the topic of "optional separate surnames for married couples."

In response to the question, "Did you and Peko discuss surnames when you got married?" Ryuchell replied, "I was surprised to learn that optional separate surnames for married couples has been under discussion for the past 20 years. I think it's ideal to discuss your thoughts about what surnames you'll have after marriage while you're still dating. I think it's too late to start thinking about marriage once you've done so, and if you want to spend your future together, I think you need to discuss this first, along with things like children. " He said that it is important for partners to first have a proper dialogue with each other.

Tsuji also said, "As an individual, I support the option of separate surnames for married couples. As more and more women take on important positions in companies, I believe that this is inseparable from the social background of women's advancement in society. I hope that we can create a society where individuals and their families can make choices that suit them. I am currently unmarried and have a male partner, but when it comes to marriage, both my partner and I are business owners, so we have discussed the legal process of having the same surname, which can be problematic, such as what name we should use on the company registration. That's why it's important to discuss things, because if you get married without having any conversations, there may be misunderstandings later on. Even if the woman is worried about "changing her name to her partner's," it doesn't necessarily mean that she doesn't love her partner or doesn't want to take their last name, so I think both parties should have a serious discussion about their feelings and thoughts. I think it's important to remember that it's selective. Of course, I think it's important to have the desire to change to a (male) surname, so I think it's important to have the option. " He spoke about the importance of this system being selective.

Otokita, a member of the House of Councillors, said, "Personally, I think we should move forward with this proactively. I believe that a society with a wide range of values to choose from is what it should be like. When it comes to whether to take one spouse's surname or each spouse's surname, there are three options. Some conservatives are of the opinion that conflicts of values, such as what surnames to give to children, could lead to the destruction of family ties. Nevertheless, there are growing voices in the political world that it is important to be able to "choose" through discussion. " I received the following comment.

In response to comments that such optional separate surnames for married couples would "break family ties," Ryuchell said, "In our case, if our surnames would break our bonds, we wouldn't have gotten married (laughs). Having different surnames may cause some problems, but I think that by having a serious discussion about the issue, our bond will deepen. So maybe my last name could be "Ryuuji Ticaprio" (laughs). I chose my son's name in katakana, hoping that it would encourage him to meet many different people and that it would be linked to the surnames of many different people. " He shared his own opinion along with the origin of his child's name.

Political action by the younger generation

On the other hand, Otokita said, "Regarding optional separate surnames for married couples, online surveys and other surveys targeting younger generations show overwhelming support for the idea, but opinions from people in their 60s and older are largely opposed. This is also true for regular elections. Of the younger generation who want the option of separate surnames for married couples to be realized, only around 30% actually vote. This will make it seem like they don't have the power to get politicians who promote it elected... That's why I think there are a lot of politicians who are looking out for people in their 60s and 70s and older, who are the ones who vote the most. I think the first step is for young people to voice their opinions and go vote. What is particularly important is not to dismiss everything the other person says, even if their opinion differs from your own. In a world where there is no perfect answer, I believe that most people are in favor of "optional separate surnames for married couples," but those who are opposed also have a point: they have traditions and history that they want to protect and believe in. We must make an effort to come up with a compromise among these issues. ” He mentioned voting among younger generations.

Tsuji said, "It's hard to know what the first step in an election is. On what basis should I vote? Should the ballot be folded and put in? That's why I think it's a good idea to gather information on a topic through mock voting, like this school general election project, solidify your own opinion, and then take action. Young people tend to get excited about things on Twitter, but I hope that this will be accompanied by the action of "going to vote."There are various backgrounds and environments for each topic, so there is no absolute right answer. That's why it's not like you can't take action unless you understand everything. I hope to take a step forward by learning what I can at that time. " There were many voices expressing their hope for action from the younger generation.

Ryuchell said, "Of course, tradition and old-fashioned things are important, but there are also things that need to change with the times. I also feel that teenagers and people in their twenties express their opinions but are slow to act. I urge you to take a step towards social participation through voting, as your opinions can change the future and the world. " he commented, addressing his peers.

I want them to grow up with a sense of self-worth rather than relying on society.

Finally, Ryuchell commented on the changes in the world, including the "optional separate surnames for married couples," saying, "In a diverse society, I think there are some people who cannot keep up with the flow of the new era. However, I think it is important not to force new values on such people, but to create a soft and gentle world that embraces such people. That's why I'm raising my children to be narcissists so that they will grow up with a sense of self-worth rather than relying on society. If you encounter a wall when you enter society, I hope you will keep in mind how you want to live your life and live your life while cherishing your individuality. " she said, talking about her own experiences raising children.

Through the "School General Election Project," CCC Marketing and T Point Japan will continue to work to create new social value, aiming to foster "global citizenship" among young people, who will be able to proactively engage in tackling social issues, make decisions, and take action, leading to the achievement of SDG Goal 4, "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." The "T" will also aim to "connect people and society."

Overview of the "School General Election Project"

■Project name: School General Election Project

■Project start date: October 13, 2020 *SNS will start in June 2020
■Project content: Aimed at the younger generation, from junior high and high school students to those in their 20s, we will raise themes related to issues affecting the future generation of young people from a wide range of areas, from politics and social issues to further education and school, and provide neutral information on the issues raised and a space for people of the same generation to deepen dialogue. By actually "voting" on the website, we will create an opportunity for each junior and senior high school student to take an active role and express their opinions. We also plan to publish articles on note reporting on the voting results that compile the "voices" of junior and senior high school students, as well as interviews with experts, and provide a forum for planning and holding dialogue with opinion leaders.

Materials related to this matter

[Good Couples Day] Ryuchell: "Facing the issue of optional separate surnames for married couples will deepen family ties" ~ "School General Election Project" - A social project connecting junior and senior high school students with politics and society ~

Inquiries regarding this matter
CCC Marketing Co., Ltd./T Point Japan Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Officer: Ando　 TEL: 03-6800-4464