Chinami Nishimura of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) has submitted a bill for same-sex marriage to be legalized in the country.
Japan, which is due to host the G7 summit in May, is the only member of the intergovernmental political forum to deny marriage to same-sex couples. Yes, even though 70 percent of its population wants to move in that direction.
In February 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came under fire when he insisted that the country’s same-sex marriage ban is not discriminatory towards people in same-sex relationships. He said that “disallowing same-sex couples to marry” is not “unjust discrimination by the state.”
Nishimura, the acting chief of the CDP, responded: “I think it’s discrimination if marriage is recognized legally for heterosexual couples but not same-sex couples.”
Backlash came from gay rights groups as well, many of which have filed petitions to class the ban as unconstitutional. They have been rejected by the high courts.
Kishida doubled down in the face of critique, saying that viewing marriage as a heterosexual institution “is not unconstitutional.”
Japan’s constitution dates back to 1947 and was written mainly by American officials following the occupation of Japan. It states that “marriage shall be only with a mutual consent of both sexes.”
Kishida refuses to acknowledge how the law favouring heterosexual couples shows governmentally-endorsed, historical prejudice. “I do not have a sense of discrimination [on the issue] and I have never stated I’m against it,” he stated.
Kishida has displayed traditional homophobia before, saying that same-sex marriage “could change people’s views on family, sense of values and society.” The world is populated. The issue here is that homosexual relationships are viewed as immoral.
Even civil unions are not accessible to all same-sex couples living in Japan. They are available only in certain areas, such as Tokyo. Civil unions do not afford basic necessities for all couples, either, including the inheritance of assets, adoption or visiting their partner in the hospital if they are in a medical emergency.
Considering that the majority of Japanese people favor moving towards marriage equality, it is probably wise for Kishida to reconsider his take on same-sex marriage if he wants his government to keep leading the parliament.
Kishida spoke out against an economy and trade official, Masayoshi Arai, who was sacked after saying he wouldn’t want to live next door to a same-sex couple–he would “hate to see them”–but it hasn’t been enough for the Japanese people.
There is a growing animosity towards the prime minister’s refusal to act on same-sex marriage. It’s believed his views have contributed to his fall in popularity: 30 per cent since last year.
Our beloved bisexual and metal princess, Rina Sawayama, gave a message supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage in Japan during the country’s Summer Sonic Festival in 2022.
“I’m bisexual, but if I try to have a same-sex marriage here, I can’t,” she said. “It’s not allowed in Japan. Out of the G7 countries, it’s the only one that doesn’t have that protection.”
“This is something really embarrassing,” she added. “Something that would accept me and my friends, my chosen family, a fair law… if you think we should [have equal marriage], please keep on fighting.”
