Excerpts: how Japan court ruled barring same-sex marriage unconstitutional

Sapporo District Court says it violates right to equality under Article 14

20210318 Same sex marriage Japan court

Lawyers and supporters hold a banner that reads 'Unconstitutional decision' outside a district court in Sapporo, Japan on March 17. © Kyodo

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- A Japanese district court ruled on Wednesday that the government's failure to allow same-sex marriages is unconstitutional -- the first such ruling in the country where the constitution defines marriage as based on "mutual consent of both sexes."

The plaintiffs, two male couples and one female couple, said they had tried to register their marriages with local authorities in 2019 but were declined, as the authorities said same-sex marriage had no legal status.

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