SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.

RocketNews24 Japanese

Featured

Okinawa’s capital city Naha officially recognizes same-sex partnerships

Colorful, tropical Okinawa just got even more rainbow-friendly.

Naha – the capital city of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture – recently announced that it will be officially recognizing same-sex couples with “partnership certificates” starting July 8. Naha is the fifth Japanese municipality to issue same-sex partnership certificates, following Takarazuka in Hyogo Prefecture last month.

While same-sex partner certificates are not the same as legal marriage in Japan, it is still a step in the right direction. It is an official recognition of the couple’s relationship, which could help in situations like purchasing housing, hospital visitation rights, purchasing family plans at businesses, and more.

Mikiko Shiroma, the current mayor of Naha, said that: “This is a symbol of our city accepting LGBT people as members of our society.”

While there haven’t been any official reasons given behind Naha’s decision, culturally Okinawa is very distinct from mainland Japan. It was a different country, the Ryukyu Kingdom, until 1879 when it was annexed by Japan, then occupied by America after WWII until given back to Japan in 1972. Okinawa has a long history of adapting to and accepting other cultures, and this could just be the next step in that history.

Here’s what Japanese netizens tweeted about in response to the news:

▼ “Hope this spreads to all over Japan.”

https://twitter.com/okaguchik/status/750671735859519488

▼ “Same-sex partnerships are now recognized in Naha. That’s amazing. ‘Everyone is different, and everyone is good.’ Okinawa and Naha are such warm places.”

https://twitter.com/no_saico/status/750675762550759424

▼ “What a surprise! Naha has started a system to recognize same-sex couples almost the same as marriage!”

びっくり！那覇市が、同性カップルを結婚と同等と認める制度を開始！！

8日から公的証明書を発行しちゃうそう。
結婚している人と同じように公営住宅に同居できたりするとか。
すごいですねhttps://t.co/Lmd92u1DYc pic.twitter.com/3wsvJHPIHJ

— ごーやーどっとネット (@goyah_net) July 6, 2016

▼ “So ‘partnerships’ are available in Naha? It’s like they’re recognizing gay marriage.”

沖縄の那覇市もパートナーシップ？同性の結婚が認められるらしいな

— しょー (@AS081212) July 6, 2016

While most of us would like to see same-sex marriage become official in Japan, this is still a good start. Japanese bureaucracy is infamously slow, but if the domino effect continues across the country, and the movement gains momentum, then perhaps we’ll see even more change in the near future.

Source: Ryukyu Shimpo via GENXY
Featured/top image: Twitter/@genxy_net

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related Stories

Trackbacks

  1. There are no trackbacks yet.
  2. Trackback URL

Trending Today

  1. Two Tokyo neighborhoods to gather on bridge and shift their recognized border through tug-of-war
  2. Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
  3. Hello Kitty ready to keep you company in the bathroom with new dessert-aroma Sanrio toilet paper
  4. Japan’s new matcha vending machines serve freshly prepared matcha in five different strengths
  5. Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
  6. Cinnabon gets into the Japanese spirit with new Wagokorobon treats
  7. Restaurant opens in Japan with all-dementia waitresses, serves up ramen, awareness, and kindness
  8. Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
  9. Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes
  10. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan

© SoraNews24 —Japan News— / SOCIO CORPORATION

Powered by WordPress VIP

%d