Japan court rules ban on same-sex marriage is allowed

There are concerns for equality in Japan after a court ruled a ban on same-sex marriage is not unconstitutional.

It’s a major blow for the country’s gay couples, with Japan remaining the only G-7 member nation not to allow people of the same sex to wed.

This is all despite wide-sweeping opinion polls which show a majority of the public is actually in favour of marriage equality.

Several regions have now begun issuing partnership certificates in an attempt to help impacted couples rent properties together and gain hospital visitation rights.

This most recent case in Osaka was brought forward by three same-sex couples, two male and one female.

Japan’s constitution currently defines marriage as being based on “the mutual consent of both sexes”.

The court found marriage is still defined as being only between opposite genders… noting not enough debate on same-sex marriage has taken place in the country to warrant changing this.

Under current rules, same-sex couples living in Japan are also unable to inherit their partner’s assets, and have no parental rights over their partner’s children.