Japanese city of a million legally recognises same-sex couples

The Japanese city of Chiba has given official recognition to same-sex couples.

Chiba, which is home to a million people, issued certificates to four same-sex couples on Tuesday (January 29), according to Japanese newspaper The Mainichi.

The documents will allow the partners to access many of the rights enjoyed by married people, like being able to apply for public housing as a couple and visit their loved one in the hospital.

More than a dozen cities and municipalities have now moved to legalise same-sex unions in Japan, where same-sex marriage is still not legal.

The ceremony in Chiba was hosted by Mayor Toshihito Kumagai, who told the queer couples: “I wish you happiness in becoming better partners.”

“I was longing for the system, and I am very happy.”

— Ryuta Yanase

To qualify for the certificates, couples need to be at least 20 years old, unmarried and living in Chiba or planning to move to the city, which is just east of Tokyo.

One of the participants of the ceremony, Ryuta Yanase, told Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun that he and his partner Satoru Ito had moved from the nearby city of Funabashi after hearing of the law change.

Yanase, 56, was delighted to get legal recognition for him and his 65-year-old partner.

“I was longing for the system, and I am very happy,” he said.

“I hope this society becomes a place where LGBT people are treated fairly.”

Japan makes progress on rights for same-sex couples

Chiba is the latest big city in the country to recognise queer partners, after Fukuoka instituted legal recognition last year.

• Nov 29

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