A Japanese court has ruled the country's ban on same-sex marriage as constitutional - bucking a trend set by courts around the country that had raised hopes for marriage equality in Japan.
The ruling was met with disappointment from plaintiffs and their legal team who had gathered outside the Tokyo courthouse.
Japan is the only G7 country that does not fully recognize same-sex couples or offer them clear legal protection. But it's not an outlier in Asia, where only Taiwan, Thailand, and Nepal offer same-sex marriages.
Ayumi Higashi, the judge who delivered the verdict, stated that laws on same-sex marriage should first be discussed in parliament, according to the Mainichi.
Outside the Tokyo courthouse on Friday, plaintiffs held signs that read unjust verdict, local media reported. Shino Kawachi, one of the plaintiffs, expressed confusion over the ruling, questioning the court's consideration of justice and future generations.
Her partner, Hiromi Hatogai, said she was extremely outraged and wondered if the judiciary was on our side but asserted their determination to keep fighting for equality.
Amnesty International criticized the ruling, calling it a damaging step backwards for same-sex marriage rights, and urged the Japanese government to take proactive steps towards legalization.
This ruling counters a series of six high court decisions between 2019 and 2021, where five found the ban unconstitutional, although plaintiffs were denied compensation. The Tokyo high court’s ruling represents a significant setback in the push for legal recognition of same-sex marriage as the cases are now headed to the Supreme Court.
