Japan Same Sex Marriage Rights

Tokyo began issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples who live and work in the capital on Tuesday, a long-awaited move in a country without marriage equality.

A Japanese court ruled on Monday that the country's failure to recognise same-sex marriage is constitutional, in a setback for activists after a landmark verdict last year found the opposite.

Chizuka Oe and Yoko Ogawa have been together for 25 years, but when they submitted their marriage registration at a Tokyo town hall, they knew it would be rejected.

Tokyo began issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples who live and work in the capital on Tuesday, a long-awaited move in a country without marriage equality.

A Japanese court ruled on Monday that the country's failure to recognise same-sex marriage is constitutional, in a setback for activists after a landmark verdict last year found the opposite.

Chizuka Oe and Yoko Ogawa have been together for 25 years, but when they submitted their marriage registration at a Tokyo town hall, they knew it would be rejected.