Japan's Constitutional Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage Sparks Outcry

Thu Dec 04 2025 22:40:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Tokyo court's ruling declaring Japan's same-sex marriage ban constitutional draws disappointment from LGBTQ advocates as the country remains the only G7 nation without full recognition of same-sex unions.

In a surprising verdict, a Tokyo court has upheld Japan's ban on same-sex marriage, declaring it constitutional, despite a growing trend of progressive rulings in other parts of the country. This decision has left many plaintiffs and advocates disheartened, with calls for legislative action intensifying. As Japan continues to lag behind its G7 counterparts in recognizing LGBTQ rights, activists vow to keep fighting for marriage equality, while the cases are set to move to the Supreme Court.

A Japanese court has ruled the country's ban on same-sex marriage as constitutional - bucking a trend set by courts around the country that had raised hopes for marriage equality in Japan.

The ruling was met with disappointment from plaintiffs and their legal team who had gathered outside the Tokyo courthouse.

Japan is the only G7 country that does not fully recognise same-sex couples or offer them clear legal protection. But it's not an outlier in Asia, where only Taiwan, Thailand and Nepal offer same-sex marriages.

Ayumi Higashi, the judge who delivered the verdict, stated that laws on same-sex marriage should first be deliberated in parliament, according to reports.

Outside the Tokyo courthouse, the plaintiffs held signs that read unjust verdict. Shino Kawachi, one of the plaintiffs, expressed her disbelief over the ruling, questioning the court’s understanding of justice and societal progress.

Her partner, Hiromi Hatogai, expressed outrage over the decision but pledged to continue the fight for equality.

Amnesty International criticized the ruling as a setback for LGBTQ rights, urging the Japanese government to pursue legal recognition of same-sex marriage to ensure equality with heterosexual couples.

This ruling marks the last among six high court decisions on same-sex marriage filed between 2019 and 2021, with five previously noting the ban as unconstitutional, although most denied compensation claims. The push for marriage equality will now advance to the Supreme Court for further examination.