Małżeństwa de facto w Japonii wobec wyzwań COVID-19

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to identify the key issues arising in relation to the existence of de facto (common law, nai’en) marriages in Japan. This paper will first show the broader context of the impact of the pandemic on legal-family relations in Japan. The discussion will then focus on the issue of de facto marriages, i.e. the genesis and increasing role of de facto marriages in Japan will be presented. Indeed, there have been increasing symptoms of the inclusion of informal relationships close to the marriage relationship in a legal context. The examples presented in this article provide a starting point for an analysis of the demands that have emerged in Japanese public space in relation to the specific needs of the COVID-19 pandemic era, i.e. the change of the unified spousal name system, as well as the issue of access to the partner’s medical information, and legal regulation related to parental authority