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Japan Supreme Court declares sterilization requirement for legal recognition of transgender people unconstitutional

TOKYO, Oct 26 (jurist.org) - The Supreme Court of Japan ruled Wednesday that a law requiring transgender people to be sterilized in order to legally change their gender was unconstitutional.

The case was decided unanimously by all fifteen justices hearing the case, and the law requiring sterilization of transgender individuals is now struck down.

Previously, since its introduction in 2004, the law governing how to legally change your gender in Japan was constructed of many steps. The Gender Identity Disorder Special Cases Act states that anyone who appeals to a family court to legally change their gender must: undergo a psychiatric evaluation, “have a physical form that is endowed with genitalia that closely resemble the physical form of an alternative gender,” and be surgically sterilized.

This last requirement was successfully challenged by a transgender woman in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Supreme Court held that the existing law “constitutes a significant constraint on freedom from invasive procedures” and thus violates the Japanese Constitution. The court further stated, “The suffering that [transgender people] face in terms of gender is also of concern to society that is supposed to embrace diversity in gender identity.” ...continue reading

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EF Education First, a global education organization, published this year’s English Proficiency Index on Wednesday, ranking nations worldwide. Japan’s ranking stood at 92nd among 116 countries and regions, continuing a 14-year trend of record lows.

Ginzan Hot Springs in Yamagata, known for its Taisho-era charm, is now at peak season for autumn foliage. While this secluded onsen town is a well-known destination in the Tohoku region, an influx of foreign tourists has led local officials to implement restrictions on day visitors starting next month.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced plans to allow the sale of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores without on-site pharmacists.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's advisory panel has outlined a proposal for amending the law to prohibit working more than 14 consecutive days. Under the current system, workers can technically work up to 48 days in a row through a system known as 'four-day-off-per-four-weeks,' while labor agreements also allow for holiday work, meaning there are no effective restrictions on consecutive workdays.

Manhole covers featuring characters from Riyoko Ikeda’s popular manga The Rose of Versailles were unveiled on November 11th at three locations within Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.

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It's no secret that Japan is lined with seemingly forgotten about cars. This is the second video I dedicate to showing you guys what I can sometimes run across in my travels and as much as it is sad to see cars left to crumble away into nothingness, there's always something impossibly visual about seeing grimy decay, especially if on cars we all love so much. (Dino DC)

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Tokyo's Asakusa district, bustling with foreign tourists, is famous for its rickshaws, a unique attraction that combines sightseeing with memory-making for visitors.

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