When Suzuki met Suzuki: why a Tokyo dating agency is matching couples with the same name

Japan’s ban on married couples having different surnames has prompted an event to highlight people’s reluctance to change their name At the very least, the three men and three women calming their nerves on a Friday evening at a venue in Tokyo know they have one thing in common. Spaced out across booths, they will soon be placed in pairs and given 15 minutes to get to know one another. “Let’s start with a nice ‘hello’ and a big smile,” the emcee says. When they meet they will only need to use their first names – because they all share the same surname. The event is the first in a series that – novelty value aside – aims to skirt Japan’s controversial ban on married couples having separate surnames by getting people with the same surname together. After the participants have confirmed their IDs on an app, the chatter begins and the beer begins to flow. Round one over, the men are asked to move to the next table. Laughter is heard from one of the tables – surely a good sign. At another, the couple get to their feet and help themselves to cakes and biscuits provided by sponsor companies that share their common surname: Suzuki. Similar events have been planned for other people with the