The move follows a series of court rulings in recent years, in which Japanese judges described the lack of legal recognition for same-sex relationships as “unconstitutional.” In March 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that these couples are in circumstances “comparable to a de facto marriage” and are therefore entitled to the same protections as heterosexual couples.

Earlier this year, the government had already extended 24 existing laws to same-sex couples, including the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, the Land and House Lease Act, and the Child Abuse Prevention Act. With the new addition, these couples now also fall under laws such as the Disaster Condolence Grant Law, enabling survivors of disasters or accidents to claim compensation.

Nevertheless, Japan remains one of the few major democracies in Asia where marriage is still defined as a union “between a man and a woman.” Despite recent progress, the government still refuses to apply more than 120 other laws, including those relating to taxation and social security, to same-sex relationships.

Pressure on the government and the Supreme Court continues to grow. Since 2021, several courts in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka have ruled that denying marriage equality violates the constitution. As more Japanese municipalities issue partnership certificates to reduce discrimination, hope is growing that full marriage equality in Japan is only a matter of time.