The central government is finally moving to catch up with the private sector on the use of maiden names in the workplace, when the Japan Patent Office is set to become the first government agency to permit the practice throughout the organization from September.

The change, announced Friday, is part of the government's push for women's empowerment and comes shortly after Naoko Munakata, a former executive secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, became the agency's first female commissioner earlier this month.

In Japan, the Civil Code requires married couples to have the same surname. Although it does not say which of the partners should give up their surname upon marriage, it is customary for a wife to take her husband's surname.

While the use of maiden names in the workplace has become widely accepted in the private sector, ministries and agencies in the central government have been slow to adopt the rule as they often deal with legal documents. But many workers have been asking for a change, partly because of the inconvenience brought on by surname changes through marriage.

The Japan Patent Office has so far permitted the use of maiden names on a limited number of documents such as internal papers or lists of its personnel, but it will allow maiden names to be used on other documents including administrative punishment notices for companies or other ministries.

As for documents such as pay slips that involve tax payments and social insurance contributions, surnames in family registries will continue to be used.

The Supreme Court is also set to allow judges to issue rulings and warrants from September under their maiden names.