The BBC reports
A district court in Japan has in a landmark decision ruled that the country’s failure to recognise same-sex marriage is “unconstitutional”.
Japan’s constitution defines marriage as one between “both sexes”.
But a Sapporo court ruled that this denied the couples constitutionally-guaranteed equality, in what is seen as a symbolic victory for LGBTQ activists.
Japan is the only country in the G7 group of developed nations that does not allow same-sex marriage.
The case was one of several brought to district courts in various parts of Japan by a group of same-sex couples who are seeking damages for mental suffering.
The Sapporo court rejected the compensation claim of one million yen ($9,000; £6,480) per person for being denied the same rights as heterosexual couples.
But it found that not allowing them to marry was unconstitutional.
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