The Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued certificates for the first time on Tuesday to same-sex couples who live and work in the Japanese capital. These certificates will grant lesbian and gay couples special access to certain public services.
…treated like married heterosexual couples – including in hospitals. In Japan, more than 200 smaller municipalities have already taken steps toward recognizing same-sex partnerships. These recognized partnerships are not, strictly speaking, equivalent to legal marriages. However, they offer improvements for both residents and commuters in terms of housing, medical care, and government assistance.
137 couples have submitted an application so far
“My biggest worry was that we wouldn’t be treated like partners in an emergency room,” Miki told AFP from her Tokyo apartment, where photos of her and her 36-year-old girlfriend from the US adorn the refrigerator. Until now, they had only carried a slip of paper with each other’s contact information in their wallets in case of emergency. “We felt that official government documents would be more efficient,” she explained, justifying their application for the official certificate.
According to official figures, 137 couples had applied for the certificate by Friday. "I hope we will now have access to various services without having to explain our relationship," said Yoriko, who received the certificate with her longtime girlfriend, Soyoka Yamamoto. She added that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's decision was "a big step forward."
Japan is governed by a conservative party that upholds traditional family values. But a 2021 survey by the NHK institute showed that 57 percent of the population now understands same-sex relationships, while 37 percent disapprove. (cw/AFP)
