national

Plaintiffs appeal Tokyo court ruling on same-sex marriage

44 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

44 Comments
Login to comment

This refusal maintains the modus operandi that "Japan is special and unique". It tried unsuccessfully to permanently close the borders because of Covid, but money talks.

You would think that because young people are not interested in sex or getting married that the government would embrace any effort to build stable, loving family units.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

so many court cases involving challenges by people to the status quo, end up in a sort of loop.... 'this is constitutional, so your challenging the constitution is invalid". the people who make the rules simply say, see? 'it's the rules.... so nothing can change, because it's the rules'.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The law is simple:

The problem is that life isn't simple, it's complex, and there are people who don't love people of the opposite gender, and do love people of the same gender, and the law is discriminatory towards them, as it allows people who have a preference towards the opposite gender to marry based on love, but doesn't allow those who have a preference towards the same gender to do the same.

So the law is not up to date with the realities of life.

-2 ( +14 / -16 )

It's only a matter of time. Keep fighting!

Bigotry won't win.

-5 ( +15 / -20 )

The law is simple:

1: You can't marry a minor.

2: You can't marry a person who is the same gender as you.

3: You can't marry a close blood relative.

The law applies equally to everybody.

One, not all laws are created equal. Oh and No 3, you are wrong, here in Japan 1st cousins can legally wed, and while it doesnt happen often, or at all anymore, it's still legal.

Oh and No. 1, minors can wed with parental consent. So two out of three you are 100% wrong.

Lastly, No. 2, even the court agreed that you are again 100% wrong as it is "unconstutional" and infringes on their human rights to marry someone of the same sex.

 said in its Nov 30 ruling that the existing legal system not allowing a same-sex couple to marry and become a family is in a "state of unconstitutionality" that infringes their human rights.

The law is wrong!

0 ( +14 / -14 )

It's nature really. Can't fight it. You can try, but in the end, it will hurt.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

There’s nothing much court judges can do because the Constitution stipulates “Marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes”. Under the current law, granting same-sex marriage would be unconstitutional. They must change the supreme law but that would require two thirds majority in both houses of parliament plus a majority vote in a national referendum.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I don't know why even bother going to courts, BCZ. nothing will change as usual, better spend time with your kids, enjoy watchin them grow, and wait till hell freezes over because that's how it is here, unfortunately.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I don't know why even bother going to courts, BCZ. nothing will change as usual, better spend time with your kids, enjoy watchin them grow, and wait till hell freezes over because that's how it is here, unfortunately.

And they are trying to change that. They aren't pessimists like you however, and see a benefit to fighting for the right to marry the person they love instead of just saying "oh well".

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Yes, it will.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Please stand up and be recognized the interfering do-gooders who oppose loving people from having the life they choose. What right do they have to impose their draconian views on folk whose only wish is to have the same protection afforded to heterosexual married couples.

Madness. Fight on guys!

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Family "units".

What a cold word.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The problem is that life isn't simple, it's complex, and there are people who don't love people of the opposite gender, and do love people of the same gender

There are people who love children, but society deems it a crime. Every society makes a determination where to draw the line, what is acceptable and what is not, in Japan that line has been drawn at a certain point that precludes marriage to a person of the same gender. Why is it culturally appropriate to impose the morality and cultural outlook of an outside and very different culture on another society.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Why is it culturally appropriate to impose the morality and cultural outlook of an outside and very different culture on another society.

What are you on about? The plaintiffs are Japanese. Try and keep up.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Strangerland:

I think he's trying to say that both same sex marriage and pædo marriage are both illegal in japan. Opening one could open the other in japan. Not giving my opinion, just what I think the other is saying.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

What are you on about? The plaintiffs are Japanese

The concepts and cultural attitudes they are drawing upon in bringing the case are those imported from abroad and at variance with the pre existing Japanese culture and attitudes which inform where that society draws the line of what is acceptable

I think he's trying to say that both same sex marriage and pædo marriage are both illegal in japan. Opening one could open the other in japan

No I am only highlighting that all societies make a choice where to draw the line as to what is acceptable and therefor licit within the context of their culture and society.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The law is simple:

1: You can't marry a minor.

2: You can't marry a person who is the same gender as you.

3: You can't marry a close blood relative.

The law applies equally to everybody.

As simple as is.dont need say a word more.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

You can marry your cousin here.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

So the law is not up to date with the realities of life.

It never has been ? People have been gay forever. Who gives a toss

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

At least not all the world is infected by the deception and delusion of these minorities who try to dictate national policies and make the majority conform to their distorted worldview.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Best luck for the plaintiffs but there are very little reason to be optimistic about it.

Still, progress comes from the effort of multiple people fighting for equal rights and evidence based legal decisions, even if this time the results are again negative this will keep accumulating until things change. I just hope this is not going to take too much time.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Bronman (Eastco?)

The law is simple:

1: You can't marry a minor.

2: You can't marry a person who is the same gender as you.

3: You can't marry a close blood relative.

The law applies equally to everybody.

As simple as is. dont need say a word more.

Simple…

but wrong, out of step, and most likely unconstitutional.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

The law is simple:

1: You can't marry a minor.

2: You can't marry a person who is the same gender as you.

3: You can't marry a close blood relative.

The law applies equally to everybody.

No.1 Yes you can with parental permission. Happens rather often from what I understand, as there are plenty of "teen" parents in Japan (So you are wrong here!)

No. 2 The law is unconstitutional, even stated by the court. (So you are wrong here too!)

No.3 You can marry your 1st cousin here in Japan, which is a "close" blood relative. (So strike 3 you are out!)

As simple as is.dont need say a word more.

Ignorance does not need to be talked about I guess!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Culture has nothing to do with the court’s decision. It’s the law what guides their decisions at the end of the day. Government are elected by their citizen. Now if the majority of citizens can tolerate issues government will not press those issues. What is need in Japan is education in tolerance especially on issues of immigration and gender issues. The objection to Diversity and tolerance are killing Japan and this reflects in its yen at the end of the day. Those who are pulling the strings are blind and deaf to these vital issues.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Since the new orthodoxy is that gender is a societal concept that is open to personal interpretation, wouldn't it be possible for one member of the couple to self-identify as being of the opposite gender, and therefore eligible for marriage under the current laws?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Though an increasingly irrelevant, dwindling minority might try .... you just can't stop love.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Yeh nah!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

wouldn't it be possible for one member of the couple to self-identify as being of the opposite gender, and therefore eligible for marriage under the current laws?

Still wouldn't be eligible under current laws

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The objection to Diversity and tolerance are killing Japan and this reflects in its yen at the end of the day. 

There is no objection in Japan to diversity, nor tolerance, so long as they only come to visit and spend their money, and then leave!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

When I was a kid, kids sometimes used to joke about marrying someone of the same sex. It was always a joke, and all the other kids used to laugh say 'Don't be silly! Boys can't marry boys'. Thank God we've now evolved to the point where we can discount thousands of years of human wisdom and common sense. Never stop to think! On to the future!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Frivolous lawsuits/appeals are a waste of the court’s precious time and everyone’s precious paid taxes.

Anyone can enter into the institution of marriage. Desiring to deconstruct that institution to match a personal agenda is not a legal inequality. It is simply an attempt to remove objective standards of equality and marriage from Japanese society.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

As civil law and family registration law provisions are based on marriage between a man and a woman, privileges resulting from matrimony, including inheritance rights, tax benefits and joint custody of children, are only granted to heterosexual couples.

Why are there any privileges at all? Why does the government grant special status to a man and a woman?

Because a man marrying a woman is the start of a family, the building block of society, and those privileges are specifically designed for those families. Governments never created marriage. They only enacted laws to protect what already existed, marriage and families. The government has no interest in creating broken families, i.e. single parent, no parent, etc.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

The concepts and cultural attitudes they are drawing upon in bringing the case are those imported from abroad and at variance with the pre existing Japanese culture and attitudes which inform where that society draws the line of what is acceptable

So? Societies change, there has never been a society that hasn't evolved over time. These are Japanese people trying to change their own society, and you went on some rant about foreigners.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@girl_in_tokyo why is it that the bigotry card has to be used win the LGBTQ community feel they can't be heard?

It's only a matter of time. Keep fighting! Bigotry won't win.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Love = Love: Whether between Man & Woman. Or between Man & Man.

Or between Woman & Woman. Love = Love.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Love = Love: Whether between Man & Woman. Or between Man & Man.

Or between Woman & Woman. Love = Love.

I think for this crowd you missed quite a few... Man turned into Woman & Man, Man and Woman turned into Man, Non-binary & Born again Christian. etc etc etc

The ONLY thing that should matter is love between two human beings!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Frivolous lawsuits/appeals are a waste of the court’s precious time and everyone’s precious paid taxes.

People wanting the right to marry the person they love, and all the subsequent benefits of a legally recognized union, is frivolous? Well, then, I guess you won't mind sharing this unimportant, frivolous institution with us gays!

Anyone can enter into the institution of marriage. Desiring to deconstruct that institution to match a personal agenda is not a legal inequality. It is simply an attempt to remove objective standards of equality and marriage from Japanese society.

Heh, yeah. Isn't it great? About time the dusty old traditions changed for the modern times. And what's even better is that this lawsuit was brought by Japanese people - so this is Japan changing from within. Isn't that fantastic?

This makes us very happy. Sorry you seem so upset by that.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

kaimycahlToday 01:26 am JST

@girl_in_tokyo why is it that the bigotry card has to be used win the LGBTQ community feel they can't be heard?

It's only a matter of time. Keep fighting! Bigotry won't win.

Let's fix that....

Why is it that the bigotry card has to be used within the Black, Asian, Muslim, LGBTQIA, people with disabilities, the aged [instert maginilzated community here] feel they can't be heard?

You answered your own question - because they feel they can't be heard. We need to call bigotry by its name if we are to make people realize what is at stake: an accepting society with equal rights for all, or a society ruled by prejudice, bigotry and discrimination.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites