Japanese people could all be called Sato by 2531, study warns. But they'd need to get married first | CNN
Study predicts all Japanese individuals could share the surname "Sato" due to restrictive marriage laws and declining birth rates.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
A new study suggests that if Japan maintains its restrictive marriage laws, everyone in the country could eventually share the same surname. Currently, married couples in Japan are legally required to have the same surname, typically the husband’s. This has sparked a movement advocating for changes, led by women’s rights activists and those wishing to preserve surname diversity. The study predicts that by 2531, all Japanese individuals could have the surname “Sato”, which is currently the most common. However, the declining marriage rate and rapidly decreasing population in Japan may impact this projection. With marriages decreasing and divorces increasing, Japan faces challenges due to its low birth rate, with the elderly population at a record high. The country’s fertility rate is well below what is needed to sustain its population without immigration. Additionally, the study warns of the possibility of the Japanese population drastically shrinking over the next thousand years, potentially leading to extinction.