Who is she?

Acceptance Same-sex Marriage in Japan: Likely or Unlikely

B11498 Yurie Shigefuji

In the US - June 26, 2013

• In Australia →October 22, 2013

Marriage Equality Act

in Australian Capital Territory

(ABC news 2013)

• In the UK →July 17, 2013

Same-sex marriage becomes law

in England and Wales

(BBC news 2013)

Wikipedia commons 2013

同性婚 OK

パートナーシップ制度

外国での同性婚を国内でも適用

承認なし法令上制限

犯罪となる

How　About

JAPAN?

Outline•1. Definition

•2. Likely

•3. Unlikely

•4. Analysis

•5. Conclusion

• Marriage between a man & man

or woman & woman

( ＊ transgender)

Same-Sex Marriage

TitleAcceptance Same-sex Marriage　　 in Japan : Likely or Unlikely

Acceptance• the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered.

(Oxford Dictionary 2013)

Society Politics Law

Likely

• Japanese society will not be able to throw out the prejudice of Gay people and keeps the system of opposite-sex marriage.

• Japanese society might be throw out prejudice of sexual minorities such as Gay people and can consent to them slowly.

Unlikely

Outline•1. Definition

•2. Likely

•3. Unlikely

•4. Analysis

•5. Conclusion

2.Likely• 2.1 Society

→Disney land decision• 2.2 Politics

　　 → promise of some parties• 2.3 Religion

→Not Christian, Not Muslim

3.1 Society – Disney land

東小雪さん！

(Jimomo 　 2013 ）

They can held marriage ceremony wearing wedding dresses.

It shows that same-sex marriage can accept in society face slowly.

2.1 Society – Disney land

2.2 Politics - promises• Japan Restoration Party ( 日本維新の会 )

　　　　‘ same-sex marriage should be allowed’

• Communist Party ( 共産党 ) & your Party ( みんなの党 )

　　　 & Social Democratic Party ( 社民党 )

‘Civil Partnership Act should be introduced instead of same-sex marriage’

(Rainbow pride Ehime 2013)

Civil Partnership Act is “an official relationship between two people of the same sex, which gives them the same legal rights as two people who are

married” (Longman 2013).

• Democratic party hold up a promise

‘ 性的マイノリティーなどが差別を受けない 社会をめざします’

(Minshutô 　 2013)

2.2 Politics - promises

Parties hold up promises for sexual minority people.

It shows that political system will take account of sexual minorities.

2.3 Religion - NOT Christian, Muslim

• In the Bible,1 ：コリントの信徒への手紙一 / 6 章 9 節 正しくない者が神の国を受け継げないことを、知らないのですか。思い違いをしてはいけない。みだらな者、偶像を礼拝する者、姦通する者、男娼、男色をする者、

（日本聖書協会　 2013 ）• In the Koran,預言者ロト「破廉恥 ( 男色 ) をしておるのだな」「女のかわりに男に対して欲情を催すとは。まことに言語道断な奴」

( コトバンク　 2012)

2.3 Religion - NOT Christian, Muslim

• In Buddhism

　　…衆道

• In Sinto

　　　 torelance

Japanese religion is tolerant for sexual minorities historically.

It shows that Japanese people do not mind accepting same-sex

marriage in religion face.

Outline•1. Definition

•2. Likely

•3. Unlikely

•4. Analysis

•5. Conclusion

3.Unlikely• 3.1 Society

→a. cannot “come out”

→b. discrimination• 3.2 Politics

→Ishihara’s comment• 3.3 law

→Japanese Constitution

3.1 Society a - cannot “come out”

% of Japanese people : LGBT

(Dentsu Soken Institute)

% 　 of American people : LGBT• (Asahi shimbun 2013b)

5.2

3.4

Figure 2: Do you have a work colleague, close friend or relative who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?

(Ipsos 2013)

3.1 Society b - discriminations• 年配者を中心に、職場に LGBT がいるかもしれないこと

への配慮や、人権問題という意識のない方が多い。だから『気持ち悪い』などと笑いのネタにする。

(Asahi shimbun 2013a)

• ‘Many employees fear work place bullying, discrimination when trying to find employment or get a promotion, or even losing their job if they are open about their sexuality.

(Nijiiro Diversity 2012)

Japanese society cannot throws out the prejudice of LGBT people.

It shows that same-sex marriage cannot accept in society face.

3.2 politics – Ishihara’s comment

December, 2010• 男のペア、女のペアがあるけど、どこか足りない感じが

する。それはマイノリティーで気の毒ですよ”

• “ それをことさら売り物にしてテレビでどうこうするのは、外国では例がない”

• (Asahi Shimbun 2010).The will-known politician gave a

comment criticizing sexual minorities.

It shows that some of politician will not take account of sexual

minorities.

3.3 law – Japanese Constitution

• Article 24 of Japanese constitution states that

婚姻は、両性の合意のみに基いて成立し、夫婦が同等の権利を有することを基本として、相互の協力により、維持されなければならない。（ National Diet Library 2003).

It is difficult to change Japanese Constitution.

It show that legalize for same-sex marriage is nearly impossible now.

Outline•1. Definition

•2. Likely

•3. Unlikely

•4. Analysis

•5. Conclusion

5 Analysis

Using ○ 　△　 ×

2.Likely• 2.1 Society

→Disney land decision• 2.2 Politics

　　 → promise of some parties• 2.3 Religion

→Not Christian, Not Muslim

2.1 Society – Disney land

• From California, the US

• In Disney land ⇔ 　 In Society

• Ex) The Koyuki

△

2.2 Politics - promises

×

過半数を超えない！

（ザ覚書　2013 ）

Figure 3

Wikipedia commons 2013同性婚 OK

パートナーシップ制度

外国での同性婚を国内でも適用

承認なし法令上制限

犯罪となる

△

2.3 Religion - NOT Christian, Muslim

3.Unlikely• 3.1 Society

→a. cannot “come out”

→b. discrimination• 3.2 Politics

→Ishihara’s comment• 3.3 law

→Japanese Constitution

3.1 Society - cannot “come out”　　　　　　　　 - discriminations• Data… authoritative

(from Asahi shimbun and Dentu Institution)

• People cannot come out because they fear prejudices and discriminations.

• There are still Discriminations for LGBT people.

○

3.2 politics – Ishihara’s comment• Generalization… ?

△

3.3 law – Japanese Constitution• It is a powerful reason of unlikely.• For changing Japanese Constitution,

( 読売受験サポート　２０１３ ) ○

Outline•1. Definition

•2. Likely

•3. Unlikely

•4. Analysis

•5. Conclusion

5. Conclusion

Likely

• 1. society 　　　　△• 2. politics 　　　　 ו 3. religion 　　　　△

Unlikely

• 1. society ○• 2. politics 　　　 　△• 3. law 　　　　　　　○

5. Conclusion• Now,

in the world… same-sex marriage 　→　○

• But,

Asian countries still never accept same-sex marriage.

• Can Japan lead the same-sex marriage in Asia… ?

Thank you for listening!