US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has announced that he has “full confidence” in the Japanese Government’s ability to take the required steps to end discrimination against the country’s LGBTQ population. The move follows the recent sacking of an aide to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who told reporters he would not want to live next to gay people and that Japan would be abandoned by citizens if same-sex marriages were legalised. Kishida’s swift reaction has been praised by campaigners who are now urging for anti-discrimination legislation to be put in place before Japan hosts the summit of the Group of Seven in May. Japan is currently the only member of the group without a law that recognises same-sex marriage or protects LGBTQ citizens against discrimination.
Despite surveys that show over 60% of the public now support the legalisation of same-sex marriage, campaigners have faced opposition from conservatives in Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party. Proposals to introduce an equality awareness promotion law ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics have been blocked by the party. However, some progress has been made in individual regions of the country, where over 200 local municipalities have introduced partnership certificates for same-sex couples, allowing them to sign documents in medical emergencies and for inheritance, although they remain barred from other services.
Kishida has made equivocal comments on the issue, suggesting he remains cautious of promoting equal rights for LGBTQ people, despite a previous promise to create an inclusive and diverse society. Commenting in parliament, he stated that the issue of same-sex marriage was “an issue that must be examined extremely carefully,” as it could “change the concept of family and values as well as society.” Japan was a signatory to a G-7 summit communique in June, which called for full and equal participation of women and girls, as well as LGBTQ people in all areas of society.
