Japanese Court Rules Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional

The Nagoya High Court decision marks the fourth consecutive ruling against Japan's refusal to recognize same-sex marriage, citing constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity.

• The Nagoya High Court ruled that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage violates the constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 14.
• This is the ninth victory for plaintiffs in 10 lawsuits filed since 2019 challenging Japan's same-sex marriage ban.
• The ruling follows similar decisions by high courts in Sapporo, Tokyo, and Fukuoka, with one more expected in Osaka this month before the Supreme Court reviews the cases.
• The court criticized the current civil law defining marriage as between a man and a woman, stating it discriminates based on sexual orientation and lacks rationality.
• Plaintiffs and advocates are urging the government to act swiftly on marriage equality, citing the overwhelming legal momentum in favor of same-sex marriage.

3 Articles

The Independent The Japan Times