Prime Minister Kishida commented on the two court cases on the 14th regarding the provisions of the Civil Code that do not recognize marriage between people of the same sex. He stated that recognition of marriage is not envisaged under the constitution, and expressed his intention to closely monitor decisions in future lawsuits.
On the 14th, the Sapporo High Court ruled that the Civil Code and other provisions that do not recognize same-sex marriage violate the Constitution, and the Tokyo District Court ruled that they violate the Constitution. "This is a violation of the law," he said, calling on the Diet to design a system for same-sex couples.
Regarding this, Prime Minister Kishida said at the House of Councilors Budget Committee on the 15th, ``The government's conventional view is that it is not envisaged under the Constitution to recognize the formation of a marriage where both parties are of the same gender. At the very least, I don't think it violates the Constitution to not include provisions regarding same-sex marriage."
He added, ``As these judgments have not yet been finalized at this stage, and similar lawsuits are continuing in other courts, we will continue to monitor the decisions in these lawsuits.'' .