The newly implemented move was raised in December 2020 following pressure from minorities. Since then, Akashi local government has become the first to act acknowledge this request and has included a planned partnership to address the rights of same-sex couples in the city.
Although the new framework is not a legal change, the progress does ensure future rights and visibility for same-sex couples and their families.
Same sex-couples are now able to change their relationship status from “roommates” to “relatives”, a request which has long been pushed for on the Japanese census.
The city believes this new opinion on their residential certification will allow couples and their children to be culturally equally recognised as a typical family.