- Predictions made by researchers say that by 2531 everyone in Japan will have the same last name
- Sato is the most common last name in Japan today, and the number of people with it is growing
- To avoid a scenario where everyone’s last name is Sato, a law change may be needed, researchers say
We can all think of common surnames, but never that everyone could end up having the same name – but this could happen in Japan if there isn’t a change in the law.
A study by researchers led by Professor Hiroshi Yoshida at Tohoku University reckons that by 2531 everyone in the country will have the same last name. Japan is the only country that stipulates that married couples must have the same name – whether it is the husband or wife that takes the other’s name.
Currently, Sato is the most common surname in Japan, with 1.5% of the population having the name. But in 500 years’ time, everyone will be named Sato, according to the researchers, who made the claim based on an assumed scenario that was mechanically calculated.
The researchers found that the proportion of people in Japan named Sato increased 1.0083 times from 2022 to 2023. If this continues in the future at a constant rate, then 50% of people in Japan will be named Sato by 2446, and everyone would be by 2531.
Consequently, there may need to be change in the law to stop this outcome from occurring.
Speaking to The Mainichi, a Japanese newspaper, Professor Yoshida said that if everyone were to become Sato, then that would be inconvenient (not to mention confusing) so people would have to be referred to by their first names or numbers, neither of which would be a good outcome.
