Japan LDP lawmakers to shun move to support separate surnames

Lawmakers from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party have urged local members to shun a move that supports a legal revision allowing separate surnames for married couples, party sources said Wednesday.In what could be construed as applying pressure, a group of LDP lawmakers sent a written request to the members, the sources said. The group also includes Tamayo Marukawa, who recently took over as minister in charge of women's empowerment and gender equality.The 50 LDP members from both houses of parliament asked in a letter dated Jan. 30 that the members reject in their local assemblies a …READ FULL ARTICLE