The challenge to the government’s position is growing elsewhere, too. Sato and Yoshi were among 13 couples who filed lawsuits on Feb.
14 last year, arguing that the government’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage goes against their constitutional right to equality.
A growing number of local governments and businesses are also adding significant weight to the debate.“The hope would be that the Japanese government will listen to the corporates, will listen to the municipalities, and will look around and see that they’re the only one in the G7 that doesn’t offer any rights to same-sex couples,” says Alexander Dmitrenko, co-chair of Lawyers for LGBT and Allies Network, a nongovernmental organization that promotes LGBTQ rights.