Japan court upholds ban on same-sex marriage but voices rights concern

Plaintiffs hold placards outside the court after hearing the ruling on same-sex marriage, in Tokyo, Japan, November 30, 2022. Placards read "A step towards Marriage Equality". REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) -A Tokyo court upheld a ban on same-sex marriage on Wednesday but said a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their human rights, a comment welcomed by plaintiffs as a step towards aligning Japan with other G7 nations.

Japan is the only G7 nation that does not allow same-sex marriage, and its constitution defines marriage as based on the mutual consent of both sexes.