Tokyo‘s Setagaya Ward has announced that it will issue certificates of residence to same-sex couples using new wording that reflects a common-law marriage between a man and a woman. Currently, the wording on these certificates refers to the couple as either roommates or relatives. However, starting in November, the ward will use the terms husband (unregistered) or wife (unregistered) to describe the relationship between same-sex couples and the householder.
The announcement was made by Mayor Nobuto Hosaka during a regular meeting of the ward assembly. In June, Hosaka instructed relevant departments to study and design this new system. He emphasized that it is significant for Setagaya Ward, with its population of 920,000 and its implementation of the Partnership Oath System, to recognize common-law marriage status for same-sex couples.
Preparations are currently underway to ensure a smooth issuance process for these certificates of residence. To be eligible for this recognition, same-sex couples must be residents of Setagaya Ward and have registered under the Partnership Oath System with either the metropolitan government or the ward itself.
Applications can be submitted at various locations within Setagaya Ward, including both its main office and branch offices. This move by Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward represents an important step towards recognizing and acknowledging same-sex relationships within their community.
