Same-Sex Marriage in Japan: Prospects for Change

This article examines why Japan is a prominent exception to the global trend towards recognition of same-sex marriage and evaluates the prospects for change. It does so through an analysis of five cases brought on Valentine's Day – 14 February 2019. Unlike many jurisdictions where religious opposition to same-sex relationships has been intense and sometimes violent, Japan has a history of relative tolerance towards LGBT individuals. Nonetheless, despite the creation of civil partnership ordinances in some localities, national legislation seems unlikely, and a group of lawyers filed suit in five district courts across Japan. The litigation was brought under the State Redress Act and is based on tort rather than directly on constitutional doctrine. It claims that marriage equality is constitutionally required and that the failure of the government to recognize same-sex marriage constitutes a tort that has harmed the LGB plaintiffs and entitles them to compensation. This article analyzes the nature of the cause of action founded on the State Redress Act, and examines the arguments, which are based more on the plaintiffs’ suffering than on their desire for self-expression. Subsequently, it presents and evaluates the possible outcomes

本文探讨了日本为何在同性婚姻合法化的全球趋势中成为显著例外，并评估了未来变化的可能性。研究聚焦于日本LGB群体选择在社会中保持“隐形”的原因，分析其历史、文化和社会背景如何影响了LGB权利运动的发展。同时，研究通过2019年情人节提起的五起同性婚姻诉讼案件，探讨了日本法律体系对性少数群体权利的回应，并评估了同性婚姻合法化的三种可能结果及其对婚姻平等运动的影响。

本文通过分析2019年情人节提起的五起同性婚姻诉讼案件，结合历史、文化、法律和社会背景，探讨了日本在同性婚姻合法化全球趋势中的例外性及其未来变化的可能性。研究采用历史与文化分析、法律案例研究、社会与政治背景考察以及司法体系评估等方法，全面评估了日本LGB群体的社会地位、法律诉求及其权利运动的发展前景。

研究总结了情人节诉讼的三种可能结果：原告胜诉、被告胜诉，或被告赢得诉讼但原告赢得战争。如果被告胜诉，日本将继续在同性婚姻问题上与发达国家脱节，LGB运动将被迫回到政治舞台，立法行动的前景仍不明朗。如果原告胜诉，法院将判决政府赔偿，但不会直接命令地方政府登记同性婚姻，尽管政府可能会通过其他方式推动登记。第三种可能是法院认定拒绝同性婚姻违宪，但根据《国家赔偿法》不追究侵权责任，这将为政府提供时间和理由进行立法改革，同时避免直接冲突。研究指出，日本社会对性少数群体的态度已发生变化，大多数日本人支持某种形式的同性婚姻认可。尽管司法干预可能需要LGB群体进一步“出柜”以推动社会变革，但日本法院历史上曾通过司法判决改变离婚和就业法律，即使没有明确的民意支持。因此，法院有可能在同性婚姻问题上采取类似行动，推动社会规范的改变。