Japanese courts declare same-sex marriage ban ‘unconstitutional’

Tokyo: Two Japanese courts have declared the government's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

District courts in Tokyo and Sapporo ruled in separate cases that the government's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

This is not the first time that Japan's courts have declared a ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

The Sapporo court said in its order that this ban is unconstitutional but only Parliament can decide on it. This ban is a violation of human rights.

Japan is the only G7 country where same-sex marriage is illegal.

In different parts of Japan, there is certainly relaxation in this regard, but such persons do not have equal legal status.

In recent years, a lot of pressure has been put on the Japanese government in this regard, but conservative circles are also very strong in Japan.

Six cases have been filed in Japan in this regard since 2019, and in 2021, only one court in Sapporo declared this ban unconstitutional.

However, despite the court decisions, the Japanese parliament has the power to end this ban.