Japan - November 2025

On 28 November, the Tokyo High Court ruled that Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional, marking a setback for marriage equality. The decision is the final ruling among six high court cases filed between 2019 and 2021. The latest ruling deviates from five previous high court verdicts across the country which had deemed the ban as unconstitutional and intensified discussions regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage. The six consolidated cases are now expected to go to the Supreme Court, with a final decision expected by next year. Rights experts continue to urge the government to resolve the issue through legislation, as the cases undergo further legal review.  

Sources: The Mainichi, BBC News, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Amnesty International