News On Japan

Japanese court rules non-recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

NAGOYA, May 31 (NHK) - A district court in central Japan has ruled that the government's failure to recognize same-sex marriage violates the country's constitution.

A male couple in their 30s in Aichi Prefecture sought damages from the state. The couple claimed that the state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriage was against the constitution, which guarantees freedom of marriage and equality under the law. The state cited as a reason for its position a civil law rule that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

The government argued during the trial that the constitution does not mention marriages between same-sex partners.

At the Nagoya District Court on Tuesday, presiding judge Nishimura Osamu ruled that the government's failure to recognize same-sex marriages violates the constitution's Article 14, which says all people are equal under the law. He also cited as a reason for the ruling the second provision of Article 24, which calls for laws to be enacted from the standpoint of individual dignity and the essential equality of the sexes.

But the judge dismissed the plaintiffs' demand for damages. ...continue reading

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A man who was placed on the public wanted list Thursday is suspected of playing a key role in a series of robberies in Tokyo and Saitama.

The prestigious American magazine 'TIME' has selected actress Anna Sawai as one of this year’s '100 Next.'

Osaka City has handed over land for the Integrated Resort (IR) project, which will include a casino, after signing a contract to lease the land to the developer for 35 years at a monthly rent of 2.1 billion yen.

Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is set to introduce new mobile phone numbers starting with '060,' possibly as early as December, marking the first addition of a new number in 11 years.

A large sinkhole was found on the taxiway of Miyazaki Airport on Wednesday, caused by the explosion of a 500-pound U.S.-made bomb.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Society NEWS

The first court hearing was held for a 53-year-old woman accused of throwing raw eggs at her neighbor's house in Kawabe, Gifu.

A veteran zookeeper at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka has been caught allegedly stealing animal feed that was stored in the kitchen, following the mysterious disappearance of apples, oranges, and other foods.

It has been 18 years since Princess Nori made the stunning decision to renounce her royal status and leave the Imperial family behind, a bold move that sent shockwaves through the country and sparked a fierce debate about the role of tradition and modernity in Japanese society. (The Ultimate Expedition)

A new method of romance scamming, where money is extracted through sweet talk, is leaving hapless victims with a bitter taste.

Two sisters in the Philippines who were separated from their Japanese father during World War II and recently had their Japanese citizenship restored expressed their joy, telling TV Asahi, ‘We want to visit our father’s hometown, Okinawa.’

A violent home invasion occurred in a quiet neighborhood near Tokyo's Nishi-Kokubunji Station early Monday morning. A female resident, awakened by noises at her front door, encountered two men, who struck her with a hammer and bound her with adhesive tape.

Illustrator and satirical artist Shōji Yamatō passed away on Monday morning due to natural causes. He was 87 years old. In his renowned column for the Weekly Asahi, which started in 1976, he became famous for his distinctive caricatures of politicians and public figures, gaining popularity through his sharp social satire.

In the trial of Mai Watanabe, also known as 'Sugar Baby Riri' or 'Itadakijoshi Riri-chan,' the Nagoya High Court has handed the defendant a sentence of 8 years and 6 months in prison, six months less than the initial trial's verdict, along with a fine.