Not recognizing same-sex marriage ‘unconstitutional,’ rules Japanese court

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Japanese court on Tuesday ruled that not recognizing same-sex marriage is “unconstitutional.”

The ruling on a lawsuit filed by a male couple in their 30s was announced by the Nagoya District Court in the Aichi province, located on central Honshu Island, according to the Tokyo-based Kyodo News Agency.

The court, however, rejected their demand that the state pay each man 1 million yen ($7,100) in compensation for “the current legal system not allowing them to marry.”

Courts in Japan are hearing at least five such cases.