Japan Press Weekly

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2023 February 15 - 21 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP Koike: As shown by public opinion, gov’t should decide to legalize same-sex marriage

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on February 20 at a press conference in the Diet building said that many people in Japan now support the legalization of same-sex marriage.

He made this comment when asked about the results of public opinion surveys which various media outlets conducted between February 17 and 19.

In a survey conducted jointly by the Sankei Shimbun and the Fuji News Network (FNN), 70% of respondents were in favor of the legalization of gay marriage while 19.6% were against. In a joint poll by the Yomiuri Shimbun and the Nippon TV network, 66% of respondents expressed their support for introducing a law that allows same-sex marriage.

Koike pointed out that a Mainichi Shimbun survey also showed a similar pattern. He said, “In any opinion survey, a majority of respondents supported the legalization of gay marriage. In particular, support from younger generations was observed at a higher rate than other generations.”

Koike said, “To recognize marriage equality has now become a global trend. Japan, this year’s G7 chair, is the only G7 country that bans same-sex marriage. The government should face up to the latest opinion poll results and take action to realize marriage equality in Japan. The JCP will take up this issue in the Diet.”

Koike noted that in the Sankei-FNN survey, 64.1% of respondents said that a bill aimed at promoting understanding of LGBTQ people should become law in the current Diet session. Welcoming this outcome, he said, “However, the enactment of the bill is not enough. In order to catch up with the international community, it is necessary for Japan to establish an LGBT non-discrimination law.”

Past related article:
> JCP Koike: PM Kishida’s negative view on LGBTQ reflected in his aide’s discriminatory remarks [February 5, 2023]