A Japanese court ruled March 17 that denying same-sex couples' marriage is unconstitutional. The landmark decision brought praise and hope to Japan's queer couples dreaming of wedding bells that could be realized in the future. "I could not stop crying," Ryosuke Kunimi, one of the plaintiffs, told the BBC after the decision.
Ai Nakajima, another plaintiff, told the network that the decision was "one huge step forward for Japan." "We are moving closer to making our dream come true," Ai Nakajima said.
Japanese LGBTQ activists celebrated, unfurling rainbow flags and banners outside of the Sapporo District Court, where presiding Judge Takebe Tomoko announced the decision.