New Japan PM Ishiba cautious about allowing same-sex marriage

TOKYO (Kyodo) — New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday took a cautious stance on allowing same-sex couples to marry in Japan, the only Group of Seven nation without legal protection for such marriages and civil unions.

Japanese courts have ruled the country’s ban unconstitutional, and Ishiba, previously said, when running for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party, that protection was needed for those suffering due to the restriction.

“It is an issue linked to the family values of each person. As far as the government is concerned, it is necessary to closely monitor public opinion, parliamentary debates and lawsuits related to same-sex marriage,” Ishiba said in a House of Councillors session.

On another sensitive issue of whether to allow an emperor descending from the maternal line, Ishiba was elusive, saying he would refrain from commenting though he expressed hopes for an active debate in parliament.

Currently, only males from the patrilineal lineage can ascend the throne and women who marry commoners must leave the imperial family. Concerns have grown about the shrinking number of imperial family members in the future.

Ishiba’s comments in a plenary session of the upper house came ahead of the Oct. 27 general election. He plans to dissolve the powerful House of Representatives on Wednesday to seek a fresh mandate, about a week after he was elected premier.

The ruling LDP has many conservative members who are hesitant to make changes that could affect traditional values.

Since taking office, Ishiba has adjusted his tone on a number of controversial issues. In his first debate with the opposition bloc in the lower house on Monday, he did not say whether married couples should be allowed to use different surnames.