LGBTQ rights in Ibaraki Prefecture

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

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

National recognition

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

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.

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

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

References

  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.
  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.
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