Japan court rules ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional

LGBTQ activists says new ruling upholding ban is ‘really disappointing’

People attend the Tokyo Rainbow Pride 2022 parade in April this year (AFP via Getty Images)

A ban on same-sex marriage in Japan has been backed by a court in the city of Osaka.

Japan is the only country in the G7 that does not allow same-sex couples to marry.

Three same-sex couples – two male and one female – filed a case against the law in the Osaka district court in Japan’s second legal challenge over the ban. But in a huge blow to LGBTQ rights activists, the court rejected their claim that being banned from marrying was unconstitutional.