Accessibility and acceptance from Japan’s same-sex partnership certificates

Social progress can feel frustratingly slow anywhere, especially when it comes to LGBT and gender equality. This is as true in Japan as it is in other countries. Sexual minorities deserve the same rights and freedoms as heterosexuals, but prejudicial social attitudes are barriers to progress.

Japan, for all of its good points, is still behind regarding issues of LGBT equality and gender discrimination. While Japanese LGBT people face less overt harassment than they do elsewhere, they still deal with low levels of social acceptance. Many do not come out to their close friends or families for fear of their sexual orientation being widely revealed or used against them.

In this environment, it’s unlikely that we would be seeing gay marriage legalized anytime soon. However, there have been small but important steps.

In 2015, Shibuya Ward in Tokyo became the first place in Japan to offer same-sex partnership certificates. Setagaya Ward followed shortly after. These certificates are not legally binding but do provide LGBT couples with certain benefits. For example, the wards requested that hospitals and businesses treat certificate holders as they would heterosexual married couples.

Since 2015 several other municipalities nationwide, including Chiba, Fukuoka and Osaka, have adopted similar systems. The benefits and application processes can differ in each city.

In 2019, Ibaraki became the first place in Japan to issue same-sex partnership certificates at the prefectural level, as well as the second prefecture to ban LGBT discrimination.

These certificates do have some limitations, however. They can only be used in the municipalities in which they were issued. Generally, couples who apply for the certificates must already be registered residents, and they have to apply in person.

This has led other organizations to come up with their own alternatives. The Japanese NGO Famiee Project has started their own certification program for LGBT couples. Some companies such as Mizuho Financial Group wish to be more inclusive and provide the same benefits to their LGBT employees as they do to their married heterosexual ones. Famiee’s certificates allow such companies to have proof of relationships that are valid outside of specific municipalities. They provide a way for corporations to bypass the limitations of the certificates issued by local governments.

LGBT couples can also apply for Famiee’s certificates digitally, as opposed to government certificates which must be applied for in person. Considering the difficulties in coming out in Japan, this provides a more comfortable option for those who don’t want their friends or family to know about their sexual orientation.

Japan’s same-sex partnership certificates clearly are not enough in the fight for equality, but they can still have some positive effects. The certificates can provide some concessions to LGBT couples, but more importantly, they can spread awareness. Many sexual minorities in Japan do have to deal with harsher forms of discrimination, such as possible ostracization among their friends and families.

However, ignorance can also be an obstacle to progress. Many Japanese people might simply not be very knowledgeable about LGBT issues, or even realize that they may know LGBT people in their own lives. Cities and prefectures supporting sexual minorities even in small ways can help educate residents about these issues.

It may be years before we see actual same-sex marriage in Japan, and ideally we would see more rapid progress. There is much more that should be done to build awareness and societal acceptance. The same-sex partnership certificates can at least help sexual minorities in certain aspects of their lives, as well as create a more knowledgable populace that can continue the fight for a more inclusive society.