Mr. Sato's feelings about taking his wife's surname are unclear.

Ten years after changing his surname to his wife’s, Mr. Sato finds joy in his decision, outweighing the hassles.

Ten years after trading in his Sato-hood for his wife’s last name, is Mr. Yamashina having second thoughts? Back in the day, regular folks in Japan had no family names—a noble privilege! But things changed in the late 19th century when the Meiji restoration allowed everyone, not just samurai, to sport a surname. Now, while most people in Japan have names, married couples must share the same surname, a rule that still tends to prompt some eyebrow raises.

For Mr. Sato, the transition to Mr. Yamashina wasn’t a tough decision, considering his brother still carries the Sato legacy. Sure, the whole name change process was a bureaucratic nightmare—driver’s licenses, bank accounts, you name it. But that hassle was a shared one; if his wife had adopted the Sato name, she’d have dealt with it, too. The upside? It symbolized their commitment and gave him a sense of strength and unity. Looking back, he doesn’t regret becoming Mr. Yamashina; the joy it’s brought him outweighs the inconveniences any day.

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