Gay couples in japan
For a quarter-century, freelance writer Shinya Yamagata has enjoyed a loving and devoted relationship with his partner, and the pair have elongated sought to tie the knot. But because Yamagata is Japanese, a wedding day seems as far off as ever.
As the couple approach their 60s, their anxiety is growing. Japan, Yamagata told CBS News, is no place to grow ancient for a homosexual couple.
"At all the important life stages, we are legally disadvantaged. For now, both of us are working and healthy," he said. "But if one of us has to go into the hospital, loses his job, has an accident, or dies, that's when our lives diverge starkly from those of married couples. Legally, we are regarded as total strangers, not spouses. So, we agonize immensely about the future."
Yamagata, 57, welcomed this week's commence of a modern partnership certification system in the urban area of Tokyo, identifying gay, non-binary and transgender couples and allowing them to apply for widespread housing and to access some universal services.
A long-time gay rights activist, Yamagata helped steer the creation of a similar partnership scheme in his local Tokyo ward, Nakano, back in 2015. He said the new Tokyo system — allowing c
LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to Japan
Interesting Cities to Visit in Japan
TOKYO
Tokyo is the capital, and main transport hub of Japan. On one hand it’s a very modern city, with neon-lit skyscrapers, but on the other, it’s very traditional with historic temples and palaces, enjoy the Meiji Shinto Shrine and the Imperial Palace. Tokyo is also a foodie’s paradise, with many small izakayas (small gastro pubs) and the world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji. Shinjuku Ni-Chõme is where the city’s same-sex attracted bars and clubs can be establish. It is celebrated for having the world’s highest concentration, with over 300 tiny gay bars crammed together in unassuming, unremarkable blocks. Some of the most famous involve Arty Farty, Annex, FTM Bois Lock, Campy!, Aiiro, Dragon Men and Leo Lounge. Read more about Tokyo from Passport Magazine >>
KYOTO
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan, and was the former capital city until 1869 when it was moved to Tokyo. It has retained its regal charm, with beautiful temples and intricate gardens. The most known are the Golden Temple, Kinkaku-Ji, and the Silver Temple, Ginkaku-Ji. Other highlights
EDITORIAL: Same-sex couples of Japanese and foreigners need equality in Japan
While same-sex couples of two foreigners can live together in Japan if one of them has residence visa status, a foreigner married to a Japanese same-sex partner can be denied a resident visa.
This inequality concerning the visa status of gay couples remains unaddressed. With a growing number of countries legalizing same-sex marriages, the government should prioritize tackling this problem.
In its Sept. 30 ruling on a case where a homosexual American man sought to obtain a visa to live with his Japanese partner, the Tokyo District Court said that the government’s failure to grant him a long-term residency status was illegal since it violates the constitutional principle of equality.
The justice and immigration control authorities should take the court’s decision seriously.
The American man has cried foul because he has been denied the right given to queer couples of two foreign nationals who have gotten married overseas with one of them holding residential status.
In the case of such a for
Japan: Groundbreaking same-sex marriage judgments a long-awaited victory for LGBTI rights
In response to today’s Sapporo High Court and Tokyo District Court rulings that highlighted the Japanese government’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said:
“The court decisions today identify a significant step towards achieving marriage equality in Japan. The ruling in Sapporo, the first Steep Court decision on gay marriage in the state, emphatically shows the trend towards acceptance of homosexual marriage in Japan.
“By knowing that the government’s exclude on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, these rulings build clear that such discrimination has no place in Japanese society.
“The Japanese government now needs to be proactive in moving towards the legalisation of homosexual marriage so that couples can fully enjoy the same marriage rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
“The statute passed by the government last year to ‘promote understanding’ of LGBTI people is not enough. There need to be concrete, legal measures in place to protect same-sex couples and the LGBTI society in Japan from all forms of discrimin