Japan’s refusal to legalize same-sex marriage was upheld Friday by the Tokyo High Court, reversing a lower court ruling and marking the first high court loss among six cases seeking equal marriage rights. Judge Ayumi Higashi said the legal definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman and as a family with children is rational, rejecting claims for damages by eight plaintiffs. Supporters of marriage equality said they would continue their fight in the Supreme Court, expressing outrage and disappointment at the decision.
Public support for same-sex marriage has grown in recent years, though discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people continues in schools and workplaces. Japan remains the only G7 country without legal recognition for same-sex couples, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party opposing reforms. With all high court cases concluded, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a final ruling next year that could determine the future of marriage equality in Japan.
Compiled From: Mari Yamaguchi, “Court’s ruling against same-sex marriage sets up a Japan Supreme Court decision,” AP News, Nov. 28, 2025.