Latest news with #Miki
Kyodo News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Married couples still excluded under Japan's transgender law
KYOTO - Miki confessed to Chiro that he sometimes liked to "transform" early in their relationship. Miki (a pseudonym) was born male and lived and worked as a man but liked to go out in skirts and other feminine clothes from time to time. Chiro (also a pseudonym) was amused. They were attracted to each other and married a year later. Miki continued living as a man for a while. But after a few years, he decided on a new lifestyle and appearance and adopted a female name. Today, 10 years later, Miki is in her 50s and living as a woman. But since her appearance differs from her birth gender, it can be difficult to prove her identity. Although the couple say that gender is not central to their married life, Miki is concerned about the need to identify herself because she is listed as a man on her family register. "They don't recognize me for who I am," said Miki. "That's the hardest part." Miki wants to legally change her gender, but she cannot do so under Japan's law for people with gender dysphoria while she is married. It states that a diagnosis must be made by at least two doctors, and anyone who wants to legally change their gender must fulfill certain conditions. As it was enacted in 2004, Japan's Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status for Persons with Gender Identity Disorder required that people changing their gender be at least 18 years old, unmarried, without minor children, sterile, and have genitalia resembling those of the target gender. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the sterilization requirement as unconstitutional. Miki meets all the conditions except for being married. In July 2024, she filed a petition for a domestic relations hearing at the Kyoto Family Court to obtain a legal sex change while married. However, in March this year, Presiding Judge Akiko Nakamura rejected the request. She ruled that the requirement of being unmarried "cannot immediately be interpreted as unconstitutional and invalid." But Nakamura acknowledged that it forces people to choose between divorcing and changing their gender or accepting the disadvantages of having different social and legal genders while being married. According to the judgment, the requirement is in place to avoid same-sex marriage, which is not recognized under current Japanese law. "Although everyone's idea of happiness is different, the court's decision seems out of touch with the times," said Chiro, who is in her 40s. "I really can't understand it." Nakamura's ruling follows precedent from 2020, when the Supreme Court refused to grant a petition for gender reassignment to a married couple. It decided the requirement was constitutional and based on "considerations such as the potential for disrupting the current marriage order, in which marriage is recognized only between heterosexuals." That decision has not been overturned. Japan is the only Group of Seven country that has not legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions. The Kyoto Family Court ruling was a setback after several legal victories by those trying to change the law on gender dysphoria and the legality of same-sex marriage. Since the 2023 Supreme Court decision, family courts have permitted gender reassignment even when a person has not undergone surgical sterilization. According to the top court, there were at least 54 such cases in 2024. As for the requirement about the appearance of genital organs, the Hiroshima High Court ruled in July 2024 that there is "suspicion of unconstitutionality." Lawsuits demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage have been filed by people in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. In March 2021, the Sapporo District Court ruled that the current law not recognizing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Following the Sapporo ruling, the district court decisions on the constitutionality of the law were divided, but by March of this year, all five high courts had ruled it unconstitutional. Yasuhiko Watanabe, a professor of family law at Meiji University's School of Law, pointed out that Germany abolished its unmarried requirement for gender change in 2008 and passed same-sex marriage legislation in 2017. "Japan should move forward with eliminating the requirements of the special law," said Watanabe. "However, we must expand the counseling system in schools, workplaces, and specialized institutions and establish a framework to support those involved." On April 1, Miki filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court against the Kyoto Family Court's decision. Chiro, who is attracted to men and has not changed her sexual orientation from heterosexual to homosexual, says she will cherish her life with Miki, even if Miki's gender transition is eventually recognized by law. Miki and Chiro said the concepts of family and happiness are different for each person, and they will continue to fight what they regard as an unjust law. "As long as Miki remains someone that I care about, I want to continue to share my time with her," Chiro said.
Japan Today
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Married couples still excluded under Japan's transgender law
Following the verdict by the Kyoto Family Court, Miki (R, pseudonym) and Chiro (pseudonym) hold up signs protesting the ruling at a press conference in Kyoto on March 26, 2025. The signs read, "Perform your judicial duties properly!!" (L) and "It seems there's no legislative discretion for divorce." (Kyodo) ==Kyodo By Mei Kodama Miki confessed to Chiro that he sometimes liked to "transform" early in their relationship. Miki (a pseudonym) was born male and lived and worked as a man but liked to go out in skirts and other feminine clothes from time to time. Chiro (also a pseudonym) was amused. They were attracted to each other and married a year later. Miki continued living as a man for a while. But after a few years, he decided on a new lifestyle and appearance and adopted a female name. Today, 10 years later, Miki is in her 50s and living as a woman. But since her appearance differs from her birth gender, it can be difficult to prove her identity. Although the couple say that gender is not central to their married life, Miki is concerned about the need to identify herself because she is listed as a man on her family register. "They don't recognize me for who I am," said Miki. "That's the hardest part." Miki wants to legally change her gender, but she cannot do so under Japan's law for people with gender dysphoria while she is married. It states that a diagnosis must be made by at least two doctors, and anyone who wants to legally change their gender must fulfill certain conditions. As it was enacted in 2004, Japan's Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status for Persons with Gender Identity Disorder required that people changing their gender be at least 18 years old, unmarried, without minor children, sterile, and have genitalia resembling those of the target gender. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the sterilization requirement as unconstitutional. Miki meets all the conditions except for being married. In July 2024, she filed a petition for a domestic relations hearing at the Kyoto Family Court to obtain a legal sex change while married. However, in March this year, Presiding Judge Akiko Nakamura rejected the request. She ruled that the requirement of being unmarried "cannot immediately be interpreted as unconstitutional and invalid." But Nakamura acknowledged that it forces people to choose between divorcing and changing their gender or accepting the disadvantages of having different social and legal genders while being married. According to the judgment, the requirement is in place to avoid same-sex marriage, which is not recognized under current Japanese law. "Although everyone's idea of happiness is different, the court's decision seems out of touch with the times," said Chiro, who is in her 40s. "I really can't understand it." Nakamura's ruling follows precedent from 2020, when the Supreme Court refused to grant a petition for gender reassignment to a married couple. It decided the requirement was constitutional and based on "considerations such as the potential for disrupting the current marriage order, in which marriage is recognized only between heterosexuals." That decision has not been overturned. Japan is the only Group of Seven country that has not legalized same-sex marriage or civil unions. The Kyoto Family Court ruling was a setback after several legal victories by those trying to change the law on gender dysphoria and the legality of same-sex marriage. Since the 2023 Supreme Court decision, family courts have permitted gender reassignment even when a person has not undergone surgical sterilization. According to the top court, there were at least 54 such cases in 2024. As for the requirement about the appearance of genital organs, the Hiroshima High Court ruled in July 2024 that there is "suspicion of unconstitutionality." Lawsuits demanding the legalization of same-sex marriage have been filed by people in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. In March 2021, the Sapporo District Court ruled that the current law not recognizing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Following the Sapporo ruling, the district court decisions on the constitutionality of the law were divided, but by March of this year, all five high courts had ruled it unconstitutional. Yasuhiko Watanabe, a professor of family law at Meiji University's School of Law, pointed out that Germany abolished its unmarried requirement for gender change in 2008 and passed same-sex marriage legislation in 2017. "Japan should move forward with eliminating the requirements of the special law," said Watanabe. "However, we must expand the counseling system in schools, workplaces, and specialized institutions and establish a framework to support those involved." On April 1, Miki filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court against the Kyoto Family Court's decision. Chiro, who is attracted to men and has not changed her sexual orientation from heterosexual to homosexual, says she will cherish her life with Miki, even if Miki's gender transition is eventually recognized by law. Miki and Chiro said the concepts of family and happiness are different for each person, and they will continue to fight what they regard as an unjust law. "As long as Miki remains someone that I care about, I want to continue to share my time with her," Chiro said. © KYODO
Straits Times
27-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Married couples still excluded under Japan's transgender law
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Japan is the only Group of Seven country that has not legalised same-sex marriage or civil unions. TOKYO - Miki confessed to Chiro that he sometimes liked to 'transform' early in their relationship. Miki (a pseudonym) was born male and lived and worked as a man but liked to go out in skirts and other feminine clothes from time to time. Chiro (also a pseudonym) was amused. They were attracted to each other and married a year later. Miki continued living as a man for a while. But after a few years, he decided on a new lifestyle and appearance and adopted a female name. Today, 10 years later, Miki is in her 50s and living as a woman. But since her appearance differs from her birth gender, it can be difficult to prove her identity. Although the couple say that gender is not central to their married life, Miki is concerned about the need to identify herself because she is listed as a man on her family register. 'They don't recognise me for who I am,' said Miki. 'That's the hardest part.' Miki wants to legally change her gender, but she cannot do so under Japan's law for people with gender dysphoria while she is married. It states that a diagnosis must be made by at least two doctors, and anyone who wants to legally change their gender must fulfill certain conditions. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong Road South closed for repairs after car fell into sinkhole Asia Trump says Thailand and Cambodia agree to hold immediate ceasefire talks Singapore Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024 Singapore HSA will not trace vape users who throw away e-vaporisers in disposal bins at 23 CCs World Israel resumes airdrop aid to Gaza, military says World Turkey marks 50.5 deg C heat record in south-east Business Already owning 5 properties, woman wanted elderly dad's 4 homes Opinion Metallurgy degree for IT job in Singapore? Why not, says Tata Consultancy's growth markets chief As it was enacted in 2004, Japan's Act on Special Cases in Handling Gender Status for Persons with Gender Identity Disorder required that people changing their gender be at least 18 years old, unmarried, without minor children, sterile, and have genitalia resembling those of the target gender. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the sterilisation requirement as unconstitutional. Miki meets all the conditions except for being married. In July 2024, she filed a petition for a domestic relations hearing at the Kyoto Family Court to obtain a legal sex change while married. However, in March this year, Presiding Judge Akiko Nakamura rejected the request. She ruled that the requirement of being unmarried 'cannot immediately be interpreted as unconstitutional and invalid'. But Ms Nakamura acknowledged that it forces people to choose between divorcing and changing their gender or accepting the disadvantages of having different social and legal genders while being married. According to the judgment, the requirement is in place to avoid same-sex marriage, which is not recognised under current Japanese law. 'Although everyone's idea of happiness is different, the court's decision seems out of touch with the times,' said Chiro, who is in her 40s. 'I really can't understand it.' Ms Nakamura's ruling follows precedent from 2020, when the Supreme Court refused to grant a petition for gender reassignment to a married couple. It decided the requirement was constitutional and based on 'considerations such as the potential for disrupting the current marriage order, in which marriage is recognised only between heterosexuals'. That decision has not been overturned. Japan is the only Group of Seven country that has not legalised same-sex marriage or civil unions. The Kyoto Family Court ruling was a setback after several legal victories by those trying to change the law on gender dysphoria and the legality of same-sex marriage. Since the 2023 Supreme Court decision, family courts have permitted gender reassignment even when a person has not undergone surgical sterilisation. According to the top court, there were at least 54 such cases in 2024. As for the requirement about the appearance of genital organs, the Hiroshima High Court ruled in July 2024 that there is 'suspicion of unconstitutionality'. Lawsuits demanding the legalisation of same-sex marriage have been filed by people in Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka. In March 2021, the Sapporo District Court ruled that the current law not recognising same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Following the Sapporo ruling, the district court decisions on the constitutionality of the law were divided, but by March of this year, all five high courts had ruled it unconstitutional. Mr Yasuhiko Watanabe, a professor of family law at Meiji University's School of Law, pointed out that Germany abolished its unmarried requirement for gender change in 2008 and passed same-sex marriage legislation in 2017. 'Japan should move forward with eliminating the requirements of the special law,' said Prof Watanabe. 'However, we must expand the counseling system in schools, workplaces, and specialized institutions and establish a framework to support those involved.' On April 1, Miki filed an appeal with the Osaka High Court against the Kyoto Family Court's decision. Chiro, who is attracted to men and has not changed her sexual orientation from heterosexual to homosexual, says she will cherish her life with Miki, even if Miki's gender transition is eventually recognised by law. Miki and Chiro said the concepts of family and happiness are different for each person, and they will continue to fight what they regard as an unjust law. KYODO NEWS
The Mainichi
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Mainichi
Cactus tempura? Japanese tuck into prickly pear superfood
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Farmers here are cooking up new menus for health-conscious Japanese, with dishes like quiche, pizza toast, skewers, tempura and cold Chinese noodles. They share a common but somewhat unusual ingredient: prickly pear cactus. As one of the few farmers who grow edible cactus in Japan, Miki Deguchi is convinced that the nutrient-packed plant is well on its way to becoming a staple here. The Opuntia genus, known as prickly pear cactus, is gaining national appeal for being rich in minerals, dietary fiber and other nutrients. It has a mild, refreshing taste and can even be enjoyed uncooked. There's some evidence to back its "superfood" label. Last year, Chubu University established the Research Initiatives Center for Cactus and Succulent Plant Research for the industrial use of cacti. It's located in the city of Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, where ornamental cactus cultivation first took off in Japan. Researchers at the center confirmed that mice fed a diet mixed with cactus pear powder had elevated levels of mucin, a protein that covers the surface of the intestine and blocks viruses, and enhanced immune function. "I'm convinced that cactus has great potential as a functional food," said Mamoru Tanaka, an associate professor of food and nutrition at the university who took part in the research. Miki, 63, and her husband Motohiko, 63, grow prickly pear on a Kasugai farm set in a "satoyama," an area between picturesque mountain foothills and arable flat lands. In May, the sounds of birds chirping and frogs croaking resounded near a row of newly sprouted prickly pear. The shoots grow tender and succulent through the fall. The Deguchis learned to grow the plants in 2015. They now cultivate more than 700 cacti in a paddy acquired from a friend. Named "Taiyonoha" (Sun Leaves), their plants are sold online and at supermarkets in the city for about 1,800 yen ($12) per kilogram and are also served at high-end restaurants in the prefecture. They are also sold as food for pet turtles. Prickly pear has long been a favorite food in Latin America, but Miki said she and her husband "want to spread the Japanese way of eating it." Their website provides information on how to prepare a variety of recipes such as a fluffy and sticky cactus quiche. "It's even delicious on rice with bonito flakes," Miki said. Cacti thrive in the desert and are highly resilient. The Deguchis' cacti do not need pesticides, and they easily withstand heavy rains, even when their roots are submerged. Farmers in Kasugai began producing ornamental cacti around 1953 and the city has since grown to one of the foremost centers for the plants in Japan, according to city officials. The Deguchis and one other farmer grow edible cacti, and about 10 restaurants offer menus such as ramen noodles and sweets made with the succulents in the city, they said. Local elementary and junior high schools serve cactus curry with Japanese croquettes, or korokke, several times a year. Experts in Japan and abroad alike are also focusing on the potential of edible cactus as a countermeasure to world population growth and climate change. In 2017, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted the potential of prickly pear cactus as a resilient and nutritious food source in the face of climate change and food crises. The organization emphasized the plant's ability to thrive in dry and drought-prone areas, providing food, fodder and water for both humans and livestock. It is already being grown for foodstuffs and livestock feed in about 30 countries around the world, including Mexico. Meanwhile, prickly pear cactus is spreading to other regions of Japan. In May, Watahan Super Center, a supermarket and home center chain that operates mainly in Nagano Prefecture, began selling the plant at some of its stores. "We aim to increase awareness and establish it as a common vegetable in Japan," a Watahan official said.
Kyodo News
28-06-2025
- Health
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Cactus tempura? Japanese tuck into prickly pear superfood
By Megumi Nomoto, KYODO NEWS - 10 hours ago - 09:25 | All, Japan Farmers here are cooking up new menus for health-conscious Japanese, with dishes like quiche, pizza toast, skewers, tempura and cold Chinese noodles. They share a common but somewhat unusual ingredient: prickly pear cactus. As one of the few farmers who grow edible cactus in Japan, Miki Deguchi is convinced that the nutrient-packed plant is well on its way to becoming a staple here. The Opuntia genus, known as prickly pear cactus, is gaining national appeal for being rich in minerals, dietary fiber and other nutrients. It has a mild, refreshing taste and can even be enjoyed uncooked. There's some evidence to back its "superfood" label. Last year, Chubu University established the Research Initiatives Center for Cactus and Succulent Plant Research for the industrial use of cacti. It's located in the city of Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, where ornamental cactus cultivation first took off in Japan. Researchers at the center confirmed that mice fed a diet mixed with cactus pear powder had elevated levels of mucin, a protein that covers the surface of the intestine and blocks viruses, and enhanced immune function. "I'm convinced that cactus has great potential as a functional food," said Mamoru Tanaka, an associate professor of food and nutrition at the university who took part in the research. Miki, 63, and her husband Motohiko, 63, grow prickly pear on a Kasugai farm set in a "satoyama," an area between picturesque mountain foothills and arable flat lands. In May, the sounds of birds chirping and frogs croaking resounded near a row of newly sprouted prickly pear. The shoots grow tender and succulent through the fall. The Deguchis learned to grow the plants in 2015. They now cultivate more than 700 cacti in a paddy acquired from a friend. Named "Taiyonoha" (Sun Leaves), their plants are sold online and at supermarkets in the city for about 1,800 yen ($12) per kilogram and are also served at high-end restaurants in the prefecture. They are also sold as food for pet turtles. Prickly pear has long been a favorite food in Latin America, but Miki said she and her husband "want to spread the Japanese way of eating it." Their website provides information on how to prepare a variety of recipes such as a fluffy and sticky cactus quiche. "It's even delicious on rice with bonito flakes," Miki said. Cacti thrive in the desert and are highly resilient. The Deguchis' cacti do not need pesticides, and they easily withstand heavy rains, even when their roots are submerged. Farmers in Kasugai began producing ornamental cacti around 1953 and the city has since grown to one of the foremost centers for the plants in Japan, according to city officials. The Deguchis and one other farmer grow edible cacti, and about 10 restaurants offer menus such as ramen noodles and sweets made with the succulents in the city, they said. Local elementary and junior high schools serve cactus curry with Japanese croquettes, or korokke, several times a year. Experts in Japan and abroad alike are also focusing on the potential of edible cactus as a countermeasure to world population growth and climate change. In 2017, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization highlighted the potential of prickly pear cactus as a resilient and nutritious food source in the face of climate change and food crises. The organization emphasized the plant's ability to thrive in dry and drought-prone areas, providing food, fodder and water for both humans and livestock. It is already being grown for foodstuffs and livestock feed in about 30 countries around the world, including Mexico. Meanwhile, prickly pear cactus is spreading to other regions of Japan. In May, Watahan Super Center, a supermarket and home center chain that operates mainly in Nagano Prefecture, began selling the plant at some of its stores. "We aim to increase awareness and establish it as a common vegetable in Japan," a Watahan official said. Related coverage: FEATURE: Kampai with a local twist, Japan gets crafty with gin FEATURE: Japanese fermented sushi getting future-oriented remix FEATURE: Japanese salmon catches plummet in losing battle to climate change
