12 people living in Tokyo and other areas will file a lawsuit in March demanding compensation from the government. They allege that the provision of the Civil Code that does not allow married couples to have separate surnames violates the Constitution.
The same provision has been twice ruled constitutional by the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court. The 12 people and their defense team argue that when people get married and change their surnames, it becomes difficult to maintain the trust and reputation that was tied to their maiden names, and many people feel a loss of identity.