Tokyo Prepares to Introduce Same-Sex Partnerships Next Year

According to the Governor of Japan’s Capital, Yuriko Koike, Tokyo plans to introduce same-sex partnerships in April. The introduction of same-sex partnerships will be a “significant shift for the country’s biggest population center.” 

Koike stated:

 [f]rom the point of view of advancing understanding of sexual diversity, as well as reducing the problems faced by those involved, we will lay out basic principles for introducing a same-sex partnership system in the next fiscal year. . .

According to opinion surveys, the public is largely in favor of equal marriage rights, “but the long-ruling and conservative Liberal Democratic Party has shown little enthusiasm for change.” As of now, Japan is the only Group of Seven country not to recognize same-sex marriage.

 See Isabel Reynolds, Tokyo Prepares to Introduce Same-Sex Partnerships Next Year, Bloomberg, December 7, 2021. 

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Florida Probate Attorney) for bringing this article to my attention.