In landmark ruling, Japan court says not allowing same-sex marriage is 'unconstitutional'

A Japenese district court on Wednesday ruled that not allowing same-sex couples to marry is “unconstitutional”, setting a new precedent in the only G7 nation not to fully recognise same-sex partnership, though it rejected demands for damages to be paid.

The ruling, the first in Japan on the legality of same-sex marriages, is a major symbolic victory in a country where the constitution defines marriage as being based on “the mutual consent of both sexes.” As it currently stands, same-sex couples can’t inherit their partner’s assets — such as the house they may have shared — and also have no parental rights to any children their partners may have.