Japan court rejects same-sex relationships as de facto marriages, denying man victims’ compensation News
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Japan court rejects same-sex relationships as de facto marriages, denying man victims’ compensation

The Nagoya District Court on Thursday rejected a man’s request to overturn a decision deeming him ineligible for victims’ compensation following the death of his same-sex partner.

The man, Yasuhide Uchiyama, had lived with his partner for around 20 years. After his partner was murdered in 2014, Uchiyama filed for victims’ compensation in December 2016. However, the Aichi Prefectural Public Safety Commission rejected the application on the basis that Uchiyama’s relationship was a same-sex relationship.

On Thursday, Presiding Judge Masatake Kakutani did not recognize same-sex relationships as de facto marriages. This continues to prevent Uchiyama from being eligible for victims’ compensation as a surviving family member.

Uchiyama’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision.