However, recently, municipal authorities throughout the country began to recognize same-sex unions, although without granting them the same Rights legal than marriage.
“We have collected opinions from the population in the last two months and we have heard opinions (from same-sex couples) who said they want to be recognized”said a Tokyo government spokesman.
The metropolitan government plans to ask lawmakers to approve a revision of the local ordinance next month and start accepting applications for certificates in October to issue them in November.
In 2015, Tokyo’s Shibuya district became the first place in Japan to issue token marriage certificates to same-sex couples.
Many other municipal authorities followed suit. According to activist groups, some 200 municipalities recognize these unions and allow rights such as visiting the couple in the hospital or jointly renting a property.
In a landmark ruling last year, a court in the northern city of Sapporo ruled that failing to recognize same-sex marriage in Japan was unconstitutional, a ruling celebrated by LGBTI activists.
However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is reluctant to tackle legislative changes at the national level on this issue.
Taiwan became the only place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019.
Source: Ambito
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