Frustrated by Japan's same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'

A lesbian couple, consisting of a 35-year-old woman (R) and 40-year-old woman (L), are reflected in a mirror as they pose for a Reuters photographer, during a photoshoot at the wedding photography business Onestyle's studio, in Yokohama, Japan, November 1, 2023. Reuters spent eight months documenting photo weddings by studio Onestyle in Tokyo and neighbouring Yokohama. The couples spoke to Reuters and allowed their pictures to be taken on condition their identities were protected due to concerns they may face discrimination. "Not everyone, like my parents or friends, know about our relationship. We thought it would be nice if we could leave a tangible memory just for the two of us," said the 40-year old office worker who posed with her 35-year old partner in matching wedding dresses. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO/YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Unable to get married legally in Japan, LGBTQ couples are celebrating their special bond by donning traditional kimonos and fashionable formal wear for elaborate "photo weddings".

But these carefully choreographed images are often kept hidden in this conservative society where many LGBTQ people say they face prejudice and stigma, even from their own families.