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Japan Recognizes 24 Laws That Cover LGBTQ Couples
The government is still investigating whether same-sex couples in common-law marriages are covered by an additional 130 laws.
Japan’s conservative-leaning government continues to drag its feet on passing marriage equality despite broad public support. However, in a surprise move, the government today said that same-sex couples were covered by 24 laws usually reserved for legally recognized marriages.
The decision follows a court ruling last March in the case of a man in Nagoya, Uchiyama Yasuhide (49), whose partner had been murdered. The man sued Aichi Prefecture when it denied him a spousal survivor benefit, arguing that the two men had a common-law marriage.
Two lower courts ruled against the man. However, in a 4–1 decision, Japan’s Supreme Court found their relationship “amounted to a common-law marriage” and sent the case back to the lower court for reconsideration.
As a result of the decision, Japan’s central government considered whether to recognize other legal rights for same-sex partners. As a result, it’s determined that 24 additional law apply to same-sex partners in common-law marriages, including protection from domestic violence, lease/rental laws, and access to child abuse prevention services.
