Japan

Japan's LGBTIQ movement has made some progress in recent years, but reforms remain limited compared to other G7 countries. As of 2024, Japan is the only G7 country that has not provided full legal recognition for same-sex marriages or formal protections for same-sex partnerships, leaving same-sex couples to face various social and legal challenges. Recent public opinion polls show that about 70 percent of Japanese citizens support same-sex marriage, especially among younger generations, reflecting a gradual shift toward acceptance​. In 2024, courts in Tokyo and Sapporo ruled that the government’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, marking a step forward for marriage equality. However, same-sex marriage is not yet fully legalized in Japan​.

Currently, around 40 percent of local governments, including Tokyo, have introduced partnership certificates for same-sex couples, granting some rights in housing, hospital visitation, and other areas. However, these certificates are not equivalent to marriage and lack the full social and legal benefits that marriage provides​.

At the institutional level, Japan passed a law in 2023 aimed at "promoting understanding" of all citizens, irrespective of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, but it was criticized for lacking specific anti-discrimination protections. The law has been seen as largely symbolic, without providing actual safeguards for LGBTIQ people. In the realm of transgender people’s rights, Japan’s Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that the requirement for transgender individuals to undergo surgery before legally changing their gender is unconstitutional–a major milestone for the legal recognition of gender identity in Japan. 

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.