09m 13s

Ten Years Together But Not in Law

Culture Crossroads

Broadcast on March 9, 2022 Available until March 23, 2023

There are binational (Japanese-non Japanese) same-sex couples living in Japan who have been married overseas. They are facing many challenges because the country has yet to recognize same-sex marriage, denying them rights and benefits guaranteed to their heterosexual counterparts as a matter of course. We report on the reality of two such couples living in anxiety.

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Sakata Machi (right) and Theresa Stieger (left) have been living together in Japan for over 10 years.
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For over a year, Komori Shunsuke (left) and his husband Danny Taing (right) have been living apart due to restrictions on entry into Japan.
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Lawyer Nagano Yasushi says the challenges facing binational same-sex couples in Japan have been given little to no attention.

Program Outline