On November 5th, 2015, Shibuya Ward started to issue certificates recognizing same-sex couples as “equal to marriage.” Hiroko Masuhara and Koyuki Higashi became the first officially recognized same-sex couple in Japan.
Ms.Masuhara and Ms.Higashi ,who had already applied for the partnership document on October 28th, visited the ward office right after it opened at 8:30 a.m. and received the certificate.
“The contact person said to us ‘Congratulations! May the rest of your days be filled with happiness.’ I am really happy that our city recognizes us as family. With this certificate, I would like to try new things that we couldn’t do before such as designation of a beneficiary of life insurance and taking out a joint home loan.” Ms. Masuhara said.
”My friends were already crying before I did.” Ms. Higashi seemed very surprised and said to reporters ”I hope this certificate issued by Shibuya Ward will spread the idea of same-sex partnerships and have big effects all over Japan. I want more people to know heterosexual couples and same-sex couples are much the same and LGBT people are around you.”
Ms.Higashi also said “I want more people to know about LGBT people and the problems facing them. These are the problems Japanese society as a whole need to think about.” As a message to LGBT community, Ms.Higashi added “I felt great after we prepared the notarized deed. I strongly recommend this to LGBT people.” Ms. Masuhara expressed her hopes, “There are various problems left to be solved such as inheritance issues,but this is a huge step. I hope what we did leads to a national movement.” “In the future, we hope this certificate has legal effects when we visit partners in hospital or look for accommodation and we also hope that someday we can freely live as who we are whether we have this certificate or not.” Ms.Higashi also mentioned about education for those struggling with their sexual identity and sexual preference. “LGBT youth need to be more educated for themselves.”
“Congratulations! It took a long time. I am happy for you.” Ken Hasebe, the mayor of Shibuya Ward congratulated the couple. He told reporters “This is just the beginning. We would like to make effort to establish this system and spread it across Japan. By raising the awareness of LGBT people, I hope we can realize a society where diversity is fully respected and all LGBT people can live as they like with hope.”
After the interview, Ms.Masuhara and Ms.Higashi went to JR Shibuya Station and took a picture together in front of HACHIKO bronze statue in commemoration of Japan’s first partnership certificate to same-sex couples.
The couple caught the attention of a lot of media and their faces were everywhere on that day. It seems issues surrounding LGBT people are getting more public attention.
According to NHK Shutoken News, some companies such as real estate firms, insurance companies, and bridal companies have already started taking new measurements for LGBT clients in Shibuya Ward since Shibuya Ward office started issuing partnership documents to same-sex couples. One of the reporters said “In western countries, a lot more countries are legalizing same-sex marriage, but LGBT people are still exposed to discrimination and prejudice in Japan. Even though Shibuya Ward has started to raise the awareness of LGBT people, the reality is it needs more time. Anyway, I think this is a huge step for them.”
Shibuya Ward started issuing same-sex partnership certificates to couples living in Shibuya Ward, who are over 20 years old and are required to submit a notarized document. When their application is accepted as their relationship is based on trust and love, they get the certificate. The partnership certificates are not legally binding, but Shibuya Ward is now requiring business owners to treat same-sex couples equally. It enables same-sex couples to live in family housings owned by Shibuya Ward.
According to Shibuya Ward Office, the couple, Ms.Masuhara and Ms,Higashi, is the only couple that submitted a notarized document as of November 4th. The contact person told reporters “It’s just started recently. It takes a lot of time to prepare all the documents. I don’t think it will be that long before another partnership certificate is issued.”
Ms.Masuhara said “There are still many LGBT people who are afraid of raising their voice. But, just because the number is small does not mean it is unnecessary.”
Accordoing to Asahi Shinbun, gay people in their fifties living in Shibuya Ward are not enthusiastic about partnership certificates since their partner does not want to publicize their relationship. Their partner asks “Do you need a piece of paper to prove we love each other?”
2015/11/06