Can one Japanese woman marry another?

The queer community’s quest for legal recognition challenges traditional notions of family in Japan as much as it does in other countries. Under current Japanese law, same-sex couples are not permitted to marry or enter into a registered partnership. Multiple couples have already sued to force the Japanese government to accommodate their desire to marry. Like Germany’s Basic Law, Japan’s constitution also provides a fundamental right to equal treatment, and the Japanese plaintiffs’ complaints raise constitutional arguments.   

My research involves tracking current legal debates in Japan and analysing developments in Japanese law. Given the significant economic, social, and demographic parallels between Japan and Germany, it is not surprising that the two countries confront many related legal challenges.

Ruth Effinowicz 
leads the Institute’s Centre of Expertise on Japan and
studies Japanese law from comparative perspectives.
More on Ruth Effinowicz and her research can be found here.