Tokyo Municipality will recognize same-sex unions, Governor of the Japanese capital Yuriko Koike announced today, in a symbolic step as gay marriage does not exist nationwide in Japan, while Prime Minister Fumio Kishinda resigned his strong reservations about a possible legalization of gay marriage.
“Responding to the wishes of the people of Tokyo and those concerned with this issue, we will make preparations to recognize same-sex associations” by early 2023, Koike said today.
Tokyo Shibuya is the first local community in the country to offer same-sex certificates in 2015.
Other Tokyo governorates and counties in the country followed Shibuya’s example. Also about a hundred local authorities in Japan today offer such certificates.
On Twitter, Marriage for All Japan welcomed Koike’s announcement, but acknowledged that the scope of the certificates was symbolic, and called on the government to “rush” to recognize same-sex marriage.
In fact, in the absence of national legislation, the usefulness of these local documents is still very limited, although it sometimes simplifies some procedures, such as renting an apartment together or authorizing one to visit a partner at the hospital.
Very few gay couples in Japan have so far been provided with such certificates.
Japan is the last G7 country not to recognize same-sex marriage, although the majority of its population is now in favor of it, according to opinion polls.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) has been holding back the issue for years, arguing that same-sex unions are “not provided for” in the Constitution, which has never been amended since 1947.
“There should be no discrimination in this, but the introduction of same-sex marriage is an issue that affects the real foundation of what constitutes a family in our country,” said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, speaking in parliament today.
“Therefore, it is necessary to hold discussions with extreme caution,” he stressed.
Kishida, who came to power in October, had already said in September that he had “not reached the point of accepting” a change in the law on the issue.
About ten gay couples in Japan have been suing the Japanese state since 2019 to secure legal recognition of their union.
In March of this year, they secured a first victory when a court in Sapporo, northern Japan, ruled that non-recognition of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, as it guaranteed the equality of all citizens before the law.
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