Tokyo to recognise same-sex unions, but not as equivalent to marriage
Tokyo will soon recognise same-sex partnerships, though the move does not give couples the same rights that married couples get in Japan.
The city’s government announced the draft plan on 10 May, with couples eligible to register for certificates recognising their partnerships from October.
Applicants will be limited to residents of Tokyo, which includes foreign nationals living there. The intention is “to promote understanding among Tokyo residents about sexual diversity and to reduce inconveniences in daily lives surrounding sexual minorities in order to create more pleasant living conditions for them,” a statement said.
Although the move, which was first announced in December 2021, is a symbolic step forward for same-sex couples, it does not give them the same legal rights offered to heterosexuals who get married.
