A man in western Japan on Thursday filed a lawsuit against his deceased partner's family for assets left behind by his partner and for being barred from his cremation ceremony, according to Kyodo news agency.
The 69-year-old man from Osaka Prefecture sued his partner's sister at the Osaka District Court, seeking assets passed to her after his partner's death in March 2016.
He is also seeking 7 million yen (US$64,000) for being excluded from the funeral.
"I am dissatisfied that I am not legally protected on the grounds that we were a same-sex couple," the man told Kyodo, adding he hopes such discrimination will be eliminated soon.
Although seven municipalities in Japan now recognize same sex partnerships in some circumstances, the country does give legal recognition same sex partnership under civil law.
A man in western Japan on Thursday filed a lawsuit against his deceased partner's family for assets left behind by his partner and for being barred from his cremation ceremony, according to Kyodo news agency.
The 69-year-old man from Osaka Prefecture sued his partner's sister at the Osaka District Court, seeking assets passed to her after his partner's death in March 2016.
He is also seeking 7 million yen (US$64,000) for being excluded from the funeral.
"I am dissatisfied that I am not legally protected on the grounds that we were a same-sex couple," the man told Kyodo, adding he hopes such discrimination will be eliminated soon.
Although seven municipalities in Japan now recognize same sex partnerships in some circumstances, the country does give legal recognition same sex partnership under civil law.
