News Shaping Japan Today
Same-sex Marriage in Japan
Article No. 8
Source Article: “Opposition parties submit bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Japan”
In the third assignment for this class, I wrote about LGBT rights in Japan and actions taken by activists during Tokyo’s 25th Rainbow Pride March. Although the government’s view towards same-sex marriage has a history of being intolerant, Japanese citizens, especially those of younger generations, have exhibited an openness and acceptance towards those of the LGBT community. In one of this week’s articles, it is certainly refreshing to see more government action being taken in Japan to work towards ensuring equal rights for all, albeit this action is being taken by opposition parties instead of by the LDP.
According to The Japan Times, last Monday Japanese opposition parties submitted a bill to the diet to legalize same-sex marriage in Japan. It goes without saying that it is unlikely the bill will go far given the LDP’s long-reigning control of Japanese politics. The bill was submitted by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party, and despite slim chances of success, I believe that there is significant symbolic value in the very act of submitting a bill like this, potentially with mobilizing power in the wake of Taiwan legalizing same-sex marriage last month. Reading the source article, I was reminded that same-sex unions were historically accepted in Japan among the samurai class and monks, and only after the adoption of western values was homosexuality deemed taboo. I also thought it was interesting how many of the recent articles (tattoo article) that have been addressing societal issues in Japan have often referred to the Olympics and the pressure it places on Japan to “modernize” and become more open to people from all walks of life. Potential embarrassment is frequently cited as the government’s motivation to embrace progress. I am not sure this is the right impetus for cultural change, but if the Japanese fear of being viewed by other countries in attendance of the Olympics as inferior due to their marriage equality status, then so be it.
Given the LDP’s and Prime Minister Abe’s track record of intolerance towards homosexuality (in 2018 he said, “Whether to allow same-sex marriage is an issue that affects the foundation of how families should be in Japan, which requires an extremely careful examination”), unfortunately it is still unlikely we will see any real progress on the issue of gay marriage in the near future. Apparently the government has even restarted moral education classes at schools to teach children “family values and good deeds.” My guess is that there will either need to be a huge shift in public view towards gay marriage such that there is an overwhelming support for it, or there is a change in which party has political control of the Japanese government. For the sake of equal rights for all, I hope Japan is able to overcome this issue as soon as possible and extend equality of marriage to same-sex couples.
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