Emily Boon in Tokyo Review on a Decade of LGBT Partnership Systems in Japan

LAC researcher Emily Boon contributed to Tokyo Review with this article, in which she reflects on 10 years after two Japanese municipalities introduced the concept of partnership systems to recognise LGBTQ+ couple’s relationships. What are these partnerships exactly, and what impact have they had so far? What is the current state of LGBTQ+ relationships in Japan?

“The partnership systems’ real value arguably lies in their power to transform society and move it towards marriage equality. Over the course of the past ten years, same-sex marriage has been transformed from a relatively niche topic into a salient policy issue, and partnership systems have undoubtedly played a role in this process.”