Words by Smiley Team
Japan is moving closer to inclusivity, as Tokyo plans to legally recognise same-sex partnerships starting in November 2022.
While this doesn’t make same-sex marriage legal, it is hugely positive.
Japan is the only G-7 nation who hasn’t legalised same-sex marriage, though recent opinion polls show the majority of Japanese citizens hope for it to happen.
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Though nothing is finalised yet, there is speculation. It has been announced that a draft will be presented to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in June, so that partnership certificates will be available in November.
To apply for a certificate, which people will be able to do online to protect their privacy, both members of the couple will need to be adults, as well as at least one needing to be in the LGBTQ+ community.
According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government is considering including benefits such as being able to make medical decisions for their partner in an emergency, and to apply for housing together. Applicants with children will also have the option to include their children’s names on the certificate, it was said.
No matter the details it is certain that this decision brings us one step closer to having same-sex marriage legalised in Japan.
And in further good news, Nintendo, the Japanese gaming company, has made the decision to recognise the same-sex marriages of their employees, despite the fact that same-sex marriages are still not legal in Japan.
SUPPORT: Smiley Movement has put together a list of charities who support LGBTQ+ people in the UK.
GET INVOLVED: Support the Kaleidoscope Trust, who are working to make same-sex marraige legal across the Commonwealth.
