US man in gay marriage sues Japan’s government for same rights to long-term visa as heterosexual foreign couples

Andrew High, a US citizen who is married to a Japanese man, is suing for the same rights to stay in the country as a foreign heterosexual couple would get

Foreign nationals married to Japanese citizens in heterosexual unions are given long-term residence upon arrival, but those in same-sex marriages are not

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People at a pride parade in Tokyo in 2015. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:30am, 13 Sep 2019Updated: 4:39am, 13 Sep 2019

A US man whose marriage to his Japanese husband is legally recognised in his country has sued the Japanese government for the same rights to stay in Japan as a heterosexual couple would get, saying he was being denied a family life.

According to Japanese law, foreign nationals married to Japanese in heterosexual marriages are granted long-term residence status upon arrival in Japan, but those in same-sex marriages are not.

Though nearly two dozen Japanese cities, towns and wards issue certificates recognising same-sex partnerships, they lack legal standing. Japan remains deeply conservative and the constitution says marriage is between a man and a woman.

Andrew High, a US citizen who met his Japanese husband 15 years ago in the United States and married him there in 2015, sued the government to demand the same long-term residence rights that a foreign heterosexual spouse would get.

His husband, Kohei, who does not want his last name or occupation revealed, joined him in a separate suit demanding 11 million yen (US$102,000) in damages, said Masako Suzuki, their lawyer.

“It’s violating their constitutional rights and also international conventions, because it’s an infringement of their right to have a family life,” Suzuki said.

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