FOCUS: Japan election puts couples' right to choose surname in spotlight

Supporters of allowing married couples to choose separate surnames will be closely watching Sunday's general election, with the long-standing issue coming under a renewed spotlight during campaigning.While the ruling Liberal Democratic Party remains wary of amending the country's 1896 Civil Code that requires married couples to have the same surname, its coalition partner Komeito and many opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, support a revision."Never before have I seen (dual surnames) becoming such a major topic of debate in an election," said Megumi U…READ FULL ARTICLE