No Same Sex Partner to State Dinner

Chairman of General Council in Liberal Democratic Party, Wataru Takeshita, told in his speech to a party meeting in Gifu on Thursday that he would oppose attendance of same sex partner of state guest to State Dinner with Emperor and Empress. He explained that such attendance would not meet the tradition of Japan, not explaining exact meaning of “tradition.” This revealed obsolete conservatism in Japan that was highly intolerant to gender diversity.

Takeshita firstly referred to de facto marriage between different sexes. He quoted an example of former President of France, François Hollande, who brought his partner to State Dinner during his visit to Japan in 2013. “Imperial Household Agency was confused in how to deal with the guest, because a female partner, not wife, would take the seat along with Emperor and Empress,” said Takeshita. And then, he referred to possible case of same sex couple. “If the partner was a same sex partner, how can we deal with? It must be the problem we will face in the near future.”

Taking the opportunity of gender argument, Asahi Shimbun made a report about how Japanese government had been treating state guest in the dinner. Asahi found that former Ambassador of Denmark to Japan, A. Carsten Damsgaard, could not bring his same sex partner to official events in Imperial House, to which different sex spouse could attend, during his term from 2011 to 2015.

According to Asahi report, Ministry for Foreign Affairs has a rule that same sex partner of Ambassador has been recognized as a family of diplomat in accordance with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. But Japan has not determined legal status of same sex marriage or partnership. So, a same sex partner of diplomat is not recognized as a spouse but treated as paralleled with a child at the age of 23 or younger. The Ministry does not invite such a partner to official event of the ministry or Reception for Cerebrating Emperor’s Birthday, to which different sex spouse can attend.

Asahi reported broad criticisms against Takeshita. Chairman of Policy Committee in Japan Communist Party, Akira Kasai, questioned Takeshita’s sense on human rights. President of Komeito, the coalition partner of LDP, Natsuo Yakaguchi, told that it was excessive when he considered institutions or customs of other countries. Takeshita told the reporters that he regretted his speech and thought that he should not say that.

But LDP did not join the criticisms. While LDP made a draft of legislation for promotion of understanding gender issues, the discussion for that has not made progress. It is only Japan that does not guarantee same sex partner among developed countries in Group of Seven.