Japanese Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

The Fukuoka High Court is the third in Japan to rule against the ban, increasing pressure on the government to address marriage equality.

The Fukuoka High Court ruled that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage violates constitutional guarantees of equality and the right to pursue happiness.
This is the third high court ruling in 2024 to declare the ban unconstitutional, following similar decisions in Sapporo and Tokyo earlier this year.
A total of eight out of nine recent rulings on the issue have found the ban unconstitutional or nearly so, with only one court upholding its legality.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights, faces growing public and legal pressure to act, although resistance remains within his party.
Japan remains the only G7 nation without legal recognition or protections for same-sex couples, despite increasing public and business support for marriage equality.