What Do We Talk About When We Talk AboutReforming the Marital Surname System in Japan? An Analysis of Japanese YouTube Video Comments

This thesis investigates public discourse on the reform of Japan's marital surname system, with a particular focus on debates over the Selective Separate Surnames System. Drawing on computational and qualitative analysis of over 100000 comments posted under Japanese-language YouTube videos, this research seeks to identify the main focuses of current public discussions, including the central themes and recurring concerns. The study aims to clarify what is truly at stake in these debates and how key concerns and assumptions are articulated by individuals. The findings reveal that opposition to the Selective Separate Surnames System is disproportionately represented among the most popular videos. These oppositional narratives, often right-leaning and nationalist in tone, are primarily posted by genuine and highly active users rather than automated bots. Topic clustering identifies three main themes: the preservation or abolition of the family registration system; the rise of xenophobic narratives linking surname reform to anxieties about foreigners and social stability; and the increasing politicization of the issue within electoral contexts. The analysis also demonstrates that public attention to the marital surname system is closely tied to judicial decisions and electoral cycles, underscoring the issue's connections with broader political developments. These findings suggest the likely persistence and continuing significance of the debate over the marital surname system in Japan.