With a population of 130 million people the Japanese government must have its hands full even on a good day. Food, defence, economic issues, international trade, law and order...
It was a surprise to find out that one of the pressing problems facing Prime Minister Ishiba and his government is that of surnames. Japan doesn't have enough of them!
Guardian readers will already know what Mr and Mrs Blog found out on their recent adventure. By 2531 everyone in Japan will have the same surname, Sato. It seems that this is a genuine problem, (although more than a few Japanese thought it was an April Fools prank).
Concerns have been raised that, without radical change, people will have to be known by their first names and/or a number. There are apparently a handful of dominant surnames in Japan including Tanaka (which means someone who lives by a field), Suzuki (Bell, tree) and Watanabe (Boundary) and Mr Blog's favourite Sato, (Village, home, wisteria or help)
With this dominance set to increase until the Sato's take over the country, the government is considering allowing women to retain their maiden names on passports and driving licences.
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