Partnership oath in Japan

As of 27 June 2024, 423 municipalities and 30 prefectures in Japan have established a "partnership oath system" (Japanese: パートナーシップ宣誓制度, pātonāshippu sensei seido, pronounced [paːtonaːɕippɯ senseː seːdo]), also known as "partnership certification system" (パートナーシップ証明制度, pātonāshippu shōmei seido), which provides same-sex (and, in some jurisdictions, common-law opposite-sex) couples with some limited benefits.

The couple is issued a special certificate which may be useful in matters such as housing, hospital visitation rights and consenting to surgery for a partner.^[1]^[2] However, the system is not legally binding and there is no legal obligation on landlords or hospitals to honour the couples' rights even if presented with a certificate, though cities have encouraged companies, hospitals and landlords to recognize the certificate.^[3] The various benefits provided by the system are also very limited in comparison to those granted to married couples; same-sex couples cannot inherit the estate and property of a deceased partner or attend the funeral of a deceased partner for instance. Partners must meet certain requirements, including living in the municipality or prefecture, being older than 20 years of age, and not having a spouse or another partner. In some jurisdictions, the children and other close relatives of a partnered couple may opt to be recognized in the partnership oath.

^ "Tokyo's Setagaya Ward to begin legally recognizing same-sex partnerships". Rocket News 24. 31 July 2015.
^ Williams, Joe (December 26, 2015). "Another Japanese city to recognise same-sex relationships". Pink News. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
^ "Japanese Court Puts Same-Sex Marriage on the Nation's Agenda". www.cfr.org. 30 March 2021.

[kon-2] Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.

[3] Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.

[4] Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.

[usa-5] Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.

[israel-6] Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.

[eu-7] The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.

[8] A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.

[9] Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.

[10] Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.

[11] Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.

[12] Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.

[13] Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.

[14] Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.

[notyet-1] Not yet in effect.

[Setagaya-15] "Tokyo's Setagaya Ward to begin legally recognizing same-sex partnerships". Rocket News 24. 31 July 2015.

[Iga-16] Williams, Joe (December 26, 2015). "Another Japanese city to recognise same-sex relationships". Pink News. Retrieved December 26, 2015.

[cfr-17] "Japanese Court Puts Same-Sex Marriage on the Nation's Agenda". www.cfr.org. 30 March 2021.

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