LGBTQ rights in Ibaraki Prefecture

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Ibaraki Prefecture was the first prefecture of Japan and in the Kantō region to introduce a partnership registry for same-sex couples, as well as the second in the country to pass LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination protections.

Recognition of same-sex relationships and families

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See also: Recognition of same-sex unions in Japan and Partnership oath in Japan

National recognition

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Since March 19, 2021, the Supreme Court of Japan has held that common-law marriages may exist between same-sex couples.[1] On March 26, 2024, the Supreme Court overturned a lower-court decision, finding that a man whose same-sex partner was murdered was entitled to the same benefits granted to bereaved family members and classifying the relationship as a common-law marriage.[2]

On June 11, 2024, following the Supreme Court's decision, the Parliamentary League for Considering LGBT Issues petitioned the cabinet to administratively apply provisions in statute regarding common-law marriages to same-sex couples.[3][4] In January 2025, Minister Junko Mihara announced that 24 national laws regarding common-law marriages would be applied to same-sex couples, while 131 others would be subject to further review.[5] On October 3, nine further laws regarding common-law marriages were extended to same-sex couples, while excluding 120 others.[6]

Prefectural recognition

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In January 2019, the Government of Ibaraki Prefecture announced it was considering introducing a partnership system for same-sex couples in April 2019.[7][8][9] In March 2019, Governor Kazuhiko Ōigawa expressed his personal support for the introduction of such a scheme.[10] The Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly began examining legislation to this effect in June 2019.[11] The prefecture has offered partnership certificates since July 1, 2019, which made it the first prefecture to do so.[12][13] As of June 2022, at least 71 partnerships were registered in Ibaraki Prefecture.[citation needed]

On 18 August 2022, the Ibaraki prefectural government announced they would recognize Saga Prefecture's partnership certificates, becoming the first prefectures to do so.[14] Similar agreements were signed by Ibaraki with Tochigi and Gunma on 20 December,[15] Mie on 31 January 2023,[16] and Toyama.on September 4, 2023.[17] An agreement was signed by the prefecture with the city of Saitama in Saitama Prefecture on October 30, 2023.[18] On October 23, 2024, the prefectural government announced its accession to the Partnership System Inter-Municipality Collaboration Network to mutually recognize the registries of 18 other prefectures and 150 municipalities.[19]

Discrimination protections

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In March 2019, legislation banning discrimination against "sexual minorities" was passed in Ibaraki Prefecture.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ "同性カップル間でも内縁は成立 司法判断が最高裁で確定". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  2. ^ "Top court rules same-sex couples eligible for crime victim benefits | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  3. ^ "超党派LGBT議連が事実婚の諸規定を同性カップルに適用するよう申入れへ". www.outjapan.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-06.
  4. ^ "事実婚への手当など「同性パートナーも対象に」 LGBT議員連盟が政府に申し入れの方針：東京新聞デジタル". 東京新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-06.
  5. ^ "【声明】いわゆる「事実婚」に適用される法令の同性パートナーへの適用に関する現時点での政府検討の結果について | ニュース | LGBT法連合会". lgbtetc.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-06.
  6. ^ "同性パートナーも事実婚相当だと認める法令が33に拡大するも、120の法令は除外". www.outjapan.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-10-06.
  7. ^ "茨城県がパートナーシップ制度導入を検討 LGBTなど対象 都道府県初" (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. 30 January 2019.
  8. ^ 茨城県が「パートナーシップ制度」導入めざす 都道府県で初めて、同性カップルの権利後押し (in Japanese). HuffPost Japan. 30 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Ibaraki to consider LGBT rights bill". The Japan News. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. ^ パートナーシップ導入へ条例改正案可決 茨城県議会. The Sankei News (in Japanese). 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  11. ^ "LGBTパートナー制度など報告書案 茨城県の勉強会". Nikkei Asian Review (in Japanese). 6 June 2019.
  12. ^ Glauert, Rik (24 June 2019). "In a first, entire prefecture in Japan will register same-sex partnerships". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  13. ^ "茨城県が「パートナーシップ宣誓」受け付け開始 都道府県で初". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 1 July 2019.
  14. ^ "「パートナーシップ宣誓制度」 茨城と佐賀が情報連携" (in Japanese). 日本経済新聞. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  15. ^ "「いばらきパートナーシップ宣誓制度」の北関東3県自治体間連携の締結について|古河市公式ホームページ". www.city.ibaraki-koga.lg.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-30.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "三重県と茨城県が協定 パートナーシップ宣誓制度（伊勢新聞）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
  17. ^ "茨城県と富山県の間で「パートナーシップ宣誓制度」の連携協定が締結されました - 種部恭子（タネベキョウコ） ｜ 選挙ドットコム". 選挙ドットコム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  18. ^ "茨城県、パートナーシップ宣誓制度でさいたま市と連携". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  19. ^ Press release (23 October 2024). "パートナーシップ宣誓制度の自治体間連携の拡大について" (PDF). Ibaraki.jp.
  20. ^ パートナーシップ導入へ条例改正案可決 茨城県議会. The Sankei News (in Japanese). 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  21. ^ 茨城、ＬＧＢＴ差別禁止を明文化 男女参画条例を改正. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). 25 March 2019. [permanent dead link]
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