This article provides a comprehensive guide on how marriage names work in Japan. It discusses the history of marriage names in Japan, the current law on marriage names, how to change your name after marriage, consequences of choosing a surname, alternative options for marriage names, the role of gender equality in marriage names, cultural significance of marriage names, international perspectives on marriage names and future changes to marriage names in Japan. The article highlights that changing one's name after marriage has significant cultural and historical significance in Japan but has also been a contentious issue due to gender inequality and social pressures.